Continued emphasis on safety, driver awareness needed to prevent future incidents

OLYMPIA — Oct. 23, 2025 — The Washington Trucking Associations (WTA) is redoubling its safety training efforts after an oversized load hit the Bullfrog overpass at Exit 80 on Interstate 90 near Cle Elum. It was the third major infrastructure collision accident on Washington’s roadways in three months.

“Safety remains our top priority, for both truck drivers and the traveling public. Our association invests significant resources in providing the very best training available to provide best practices for truckers, including those in the heavy haul industry,” said WTA President & CEO Sheri Call.

“Tuesday night’s accident on I-90 is a good reminder that we must continue our vigilance on safe driving practices. WTA works in tandem with the Washington State Patrol on training and enforcement, and we will be looking to develop even more resources to ensure drivers are prepared to operate safely,” said Call.

“The human element will always be a factor in roadway travel – all the precautions in the world cannot eliminate basic human error. But we must do everything possible to mitigate the possibility of those errors, and any other challenges that can have a negative impact on driving,” she added. “This, by all accounts, was an extremely unfortunate accident. We should not paint the entire industry as bad. The trucking industry logs 5.2 billion miles on Washington’s roads each year and remains a vital part of our supply chain. We look forward to working with law enforcement and the Washington State Department of Transportation to find new ways to train and educate truck drivers traveling our roads.”

Interstate 90 is one of the state’s busiest roadways and is a main transportation artery for people and the state’s supply chain. According to the Washington State Patrol, about 17,000 drivers travel westbound on I-90 every day, and about 1,500 vehicles travel over the overpass every day.

About the Washington Trucking Associations
Since 1922, the Washington Trucking Associations (WTA) has served as the unified voice for the trucking industry in Washington. Member-supported, WTA is dedicated to advocating sound public policies, providing excellence in education, training, and information, as well as promoting a safe, dependable, and efficient trucking industry in Washington. For more information, visit www.watrucking.org.