Semitruck crashes, catches fire on I-90 near Moses Lake; no injuries reported

A semitruck crashed and caught fire Saturday afternoon on Interstate 90 near Moses Lake, blocking eastbound traffic, spilling fuel onto the roadway and sending a plume of black smoke into the air.

Trooper John Bryant of the Washington State Patrol reported the crash on Twitter shortly before 2 p.m. He said no one was injured and all occupants had exited the truck, which had been hauling boxes of produce.

Photos showed large pieces of the truck and trailer scattered across the roadway, with the freight box flaming in the background. All eastbound lanes were blocked, forcing some drivers to take a long detour. Westbound vehicles were initially allowed to squeeze past the wreck on the shoulder of the freeway.

About 30 minutes after his initial dispatch, Bryant said in a tweet that the fire was contained but still smoking, and a tow truck was en route. Cleanup took time, however, because of spilled fuel and oil.

At about 4 p.m., Bryant said both westbound lanes had reopened, and so had one eastbound lane. He urged drivers to be patient.

The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. Bryant said no other vehicles were involved, and the driver showed no sign of intoxication. Traffic was light at the time of the crash, he said.