The WSP reported that a WSDOT truck was applying product on the roadway as crews were performing road maintenance in the area. A commercial truck traveling eastbound failed to stop and crashed into the WSDOT truck
Ellensburg, WA – A Washington State Department of Transportation worker was injured in a collision involving a suspected DUI driver near Ellensburg on Friday night.
According to the Washington State Patrol, the accident happened on Interstate 90 near milepost 115, at about 7:52 p.m. January 17.
The WSP reported that a WSDOT truck was applying product on the roadway as crews were performing road maintenance in the area. A commercial truck traveling eastbound failed to stop and crashed into the WSDOT truck.
The impact of the crash pushed the WSDOT truck off the roadway and it rolled over in the median.
The driver of the rollover vehicle, Joshua T. Quilici, 32, of Kittitas, was rushed to Kittitas Valley Healthcare with unspecified injuries.
According to WSP, drugs or alcohol were suspected to have played a role in the accident. The driver of the commercial truck, Nursultan Rysbekov, 29, of Mount Prospect, Illinois, was charged with driving under the influence and endangerment of a roadway worker.
Both trucks were towed from the site of the collision. The Washington State Patrol is investigating the accident.
Traffic-related deaths in Kittitas County have remained a serious concern, averaging 9 fatalities annually between 2021 and 2023. The situation worsened as it reached its highest point in 2022, when 13 lives were lost due to traffic collisions. Data from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) shows that a large share of these fatal crashes occurred on state highways, with Interstate 90 ranking among the most dangerous roadways in the county.
These routes are particularly hazardous due to a combination of sharp curves and heavy traffic flow, including frequent semi-truck activity. Such conditions often lead to risky passing maneuvers, increasing the likelihood of vehicles veering into oncoming lanes. In addition to roadway design and traffic volume, contributing factors commonly include impaired driving, excessive speed, unsafe passing, and driver distraction. Motorists are strongly encouraged to stay alert, especially when traveling through high-risk areas like I-90, to reduce the chances of being involved in a devastating crash.
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