Sammamish man ‘lucky’ to be alive after hitting semi on Sahalee Way | Update

A semitruck rolled over just north of the Sammamish city limits shut down Sahalee Way Northeast Thursday afternoon between State Route 202 and Northeast 37th Way.

By Megan Campbell • February 4, 2016 7:18 pm
The semitruck that had blocked Sahalee Way Northeast in the afternoon Thursday is being towed away. City crews reroute traffic while the roadway was blocked.
The semitruck that had blocked Sahalee Way Northeast in the afternoon Thursday is being towed away. City crews reroute traffic while the roadway was blocked.

The driver who collided with a semitruck closing down part of Sahalee Way Northeast Thursday afternoon is “really lucky” to be alive, according to King County Sheriff’s Office.

The driver, a 47-year-old Sammamish man, was transported to Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue with minor injuries, said Sgt. Cindi West, King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, Friday. He also was cited for driving “too fast for conditions,” West said.

The truck driver, a 48-year-old Snohomish man, was unharmed, aside from being a little shaken.

Shortly before 3 p.m., the Sammamish man driving a 2006 Honda was heading southbound on Sahalee Way Northeast when he passed over the center lane. He hit the oncoming truck with the front driver’s side of his vehicle.

The impact smacked the truck’s rear axle off, tipped the truck over and left a 50-foot stretch of roadway covered with oil, fuel and other debris, West said.

The airbags in both vehicles deployed, which is likely what saved the Sammamish man’s life, West said.

It took crews two and half hours to clear the roadway before reopening Sahalee Way Northeast between State Route 202 and Northeast 37th Way in both lanes shortly after 5:30 p.m.

The King County Sheriff’s Office, Sammamish Police Department, county road and city road crews responded to the accident, as well as private towing companies.


*The Reporter initially reported the driver of the 2006 Honda was a woman, which is incorrect.

Original story: An semitruck rolled over in unincorporated King County, shutting down both lanes of Sahalee Way Northeast Thursday around 3 p.m.

The accident occurred just north of Sammamish city limits between State Route 202 and Northeast 37th Way.

According to the city, the truck collided with another vehicle. There is no more information on that at this time.

King County and city crews were on scene. King County hauled the truck away shortly after 5:30 p.m., clearing the roadway for both lanes of traffic.

The city of Sammamish rerouted traffic, temporarily opening the Northeast 42nd Street opticom gate.