Two crashes on Highway US 195 south of Spokane cause congestion

A semitruck rollover congested northbound traffic on U.S. Highway 195 a few miles south of Spokane Friday, and traffic was further delayed when a second crash happened in the same vicinity.

The first crash was located at the intersection of South Hatch Road and U.S. 195. Drivers northbound were using the center turn lane to pass through the area, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Twitter page.

Officials expected the roadway to be closed for an extended period. WSDOT tweeted at 2:50 p.m. that one lane had reopened.

Trooper Jeff Sevigney, Washington State Patrol spokesperson, said crews need more time than usual to clear roadways when semitrucks rollover. WSDOT said on Twitter the crash had been cleared at 6:36 p.m.

Details on potential injuries weren’t immediately reported, but extrication was necessary, according to Sevigney.

Meanwhile, a second crash on the northbound part of the highway that blocked the left lane was reported around 3 p.m. That crash happened just south of Hatch Road, WSDOT said in a tweet.