Explosive devices shut down I-90 for hours on Mercer Island, WA

by 247News Center October 13, 2024

written by 247News Center October 13, 2024 0 comment

SEATTLE – I-90 lanes heading westbound have reopened on Mercer Island Saturday afternoon after police saw two men throwing explosive devices out of their car windows.

Eastbound and westbound lanes were previously shut down to all drivers, leading to a massive, three-hour traffic backup for drivers in the Mercer Island area.

Explosive devices shut down I-90 for hours on Mercer Island, WA — I-90 closure on Mercer Island (WSDOT)

<div><button class= — I-90 closure on Mercer Island (WSDOT)

Just after 12:30 p.m. on October 12, police out of Bellevue shut down all traffic in both directions of I-90 just east of Island Crest Way.

This allowed them to locate and detonate two explosive devices thrown out of a vehicle. Another object thrown was described by police as a type of firework.

EXPLOSIVE DEVICES SAFELY DETONATED

Bellevue PD saying the bomb squad safely disarmed 2 of the 3 devices found. The 3rd was described as an elongated firework.

Below is a picture of the explosive device. Police telling @fox13seattle the suspect attempted to light and throw it… pic.twitter.com/XWfJC9kzuO

— Dave Detling (@DetlingFOX13) October 13, 2024

UPDATE |🚨WB I-90 CLOSED ON MERCER ISLAND

EB I-90 on Mercer Island has reopened.
WB I-90 remains closed. Continue to seek alternate routes. https://t.co/mBw5qPnWKd

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) October 12, 2024

Mercer Island police announced an increased law enforcement presence after seeing explosive devices thrown out of a car.

A bomb squad arrived as authorities put two suspects in custody, according to Trooper Rick Johnson. During this time, long traffic backups impacts drivers in the Seattle, Bellevue, and Mercer Island.

<div>I-90 traffic backup on Mercer Island</div> — I-90 traffic backup on Mercer Island

The incident began when Bellevue Police attempted to perform a traffic stop and the suspect vehicle fled. Washington State police were then called in to assist. During the chase, WSP say something was thrown from the vehicle that could have been an explosive device.

This is when traffic was completely halted in the area. For westbound travel, traffic reopened just after 3 p.m., and eastbound lanes from 76th Street reopened just before 2 p.m.

Police say there is no ongoing threat to the public.