MERCER ISLAND, Wash. — All lanes of Interstate 90 lanes have reopened on Mercer Island after a suspect allegedly attempted to light a bomb while on the run from police Saturday morning, according to the Bellevue Police Department and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
Both directions of I-90 were closed for approximately three hours and reopened by 3:10 p.m., according to WSDOT.
Just before 10:40 a.m. in the 3500 block of 108th Avenue in Bellevue, officers responded to reports of a driver and passenger sleeping in an idling black sedan, which had been stolen. The two suspects, both middle-aged men, allegedly had drugs and officers suspected them of driving under the influence.
When officers woke up the driver, the men fled the scene. All of the car's tires were popped when officers used spikes to stop the car, but the driver continued on to westbound I-90, police said.
The passenger tried to run away, but was caught by police. The Washington State Patrol stopped the car near exit 8 and the driver then attempted to run away.
As police and troopers were chasing him, he reportedly turned around to show he was carrying a blow torch and an explosive device, police said. The man attempted to light the device, police said, and he was tackled by officers.
Two more explosive devices were later found inside the black sedan.
Because an explosive device was involved, WSP and police closed both directions of I-90.
WSDOT first posted about the closure around 12:45 p.m.
Several bomb squads, including those with WSP, Bellevue Police Department, King County and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) responded to the scene.
Both the driver and the passenger, who had felony warrants, were arrested and will be booked into King County Jail after a medical evaluation, police said.
WSDOT is advising travelers to seek an alternative route.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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