Flatbed truck crashes, burns on I-90 near Medical Lake; no injuries reported

A truck pulling a flatbed trailer became engulfed in flames Thursday after crashing into a guard rail along Interstate 90 near Medical Lake. The driver was uninjured.

A Washington State Patrol dispatcher said the crash was reported about 3:45 p.m. The truck was westbound when it veered onto the shoulder of the freeway near the Salnave Road exit.

State troopers, paramedics and firefighters responded, blocking westbound traffic and working to douse flames that spread into trees and emitted a column of black smoke.

Crews at first told nearby residents to evacuate their homes, but by 6 p.m. they were mopping up hot spots and preparing to leave the scene.

It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the crash or the fire, but Lt. Carl Golden of Spokane County Fire District 3 said one of the truck’s tires may have popped, forcing the rig to veer off the roadway.