Friday morning crash second fatal incident along I-5 in Bellingham in less than 12 hours

Bellingham driver suspected of vehicular homicide, DUI in I-5 crash with pedestrian Friday

A second person has died along Interstate 5 in Whatcom County in less than 12 hours, as the Washington State Patrol reported that a fatal crash just north of the Bakerview Road exit in Bellingham involved a pedestrian.

Trooper Kelsey Harding told The Bellingham Herald that no other information was available on the crash, which occurred Friday morning, Oct. 7, other than it involved a single vehicle and a pedestrian.

The Washington State Department of Transportation first tweeted about the crash near milepost 259 at 6:46 a.m. Friday, reporting that it was blocking the right lane.

“Emergency crews are on scene. Expect delays!” WSDOT tweeted at 6:50 a.m.

At 7:13 a.m., WSDOT tweeted to expect lengthy delays.

“Due to the nature of this collision, we have no estimate for reopening of the right lane at this time,” the tweet read.

As of 8 a.m., WSDOT traffic cameras showed southbound traffic along I-5 was backed up beyond the Main Street exit in Ferndale. At 9:04 a.m., WSDOT tweeted that all lanes were clear.

Thursday evening, Oct. 6, a Ferndale motorcyclist died along I-5 in Bellingham after being involved in a collision with a hit-and-run vehicle near the Lakeway exit.

This is the second time this year that there have been two fatal crashes on Whatcom County roadways within a 24-hour period, as there also were two on March 16.

The two fatal crashes Thursday and Friday bring the total number of deaths on Whatcom County highways in 2022 to 15, including three that involved pedestrians, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation Crash Data Portal. In 2021, WSDOT reported there were 16 fatal crashes resulting in 19 deaths in Whatcom County, including four crashes that involved pedestrians.