Girl Critically Injured in Interstate 90 Pileup

A tractor trailer struck a logging truck and set off a 14-vehicle pileup on Interstate 90 at 8 a.m. Wednesday, which resulted in critical injuries to a 9-year-old Issaquah girl, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The tractor trailer, driven by Richard H. Noble, 60, of Concrete, was headed westbound on Interstate 90 in the right-hand lane and came upon stopped traffic just before the Interstate 405 exit, said Washington State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Keith Trowbridge.

Noble's tractor trailer struck a logging cab in the next lane, which was driven by Michael M. Mullins, 61, of Randle, and the logging cab's rear axle and rear assembly came off, Trowbridge said. The load of the logging cab started to fishtail and the logs struck multiple vehicles before Mullins regained control and pulled the vehicle to the right shoulder of the freeway, Trowbridge said.

The tractor trailer driven by Noble also struck some cars that were stopped, Trowbridge said. In all, 14 vehicles were involved, according to the state patrol.

Seven people were taken to local hospitals, according to the Bellevue Fire Department. The injured included a critically injured 9-year-old Issaquah girl, who was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to the Washington State Patrol. Noble and an Everett driver, Brian M. Sykes, 33, were taken to Overlake Hospital Medical Center for their injuries, according to the Washington State Patrol, which did not provided details on any other injuries.

Trowbridge said that troopers continue to investigate, and no charges or tickets have yet been issued.

"This is going to be a lengthy investigation and it will take time to go over everything, or see if there was a mechanical issue, before there is a determination of charges," Trowbridge said.

The crash caused several lanes of westbound I-90 to be closed down during the investigation, causing backups as long as six miles, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.