Crashes on I-90 halt traffic eastbound

Two multi-vehicle crashes Friday afternoon on Interstate 90 near Highway 195 caused a seven-mile backup in the eastbound lanes.

The first accident, around 2:35 p.m., involved two cars and a motorcycle, according to the Washington State Patrol. No one was injured.

Authorities say the second collision occurred when vehicles slowed for the first crash. A tractor-trailer, driven by Edward D. Volk, 41, of Fargo, N.D., did not slow and hit a tractor-trailer driven by Jeffrey S. Canfield, 31, of Athol. Canfield was pushed into a tractor-trailer driven by Michael S. Novak, 60, of Nine Mile Falls, who was pushed forward into a Nissan Pathfinder driven by Brian S. Pryer, 55, of Hayden.

Authorities say the cause was following too close. Novak was treated and released from a local hospital.