A pair of early-evening crashes has blocked all lanes of northbound Interstate 5 traffic near Bellingham, Washington, and Washington State Patrol is expecting an “extended closure.” State Patrol and local fire and medical crews responded to the scene. The crashes occurred just north of Lakeway Drive, near milepost 253, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

I-5 Closure Near Lakeway Drive

The first crash, involving a car and a semi-truck, resulted in at least one injury, according to WSP spokesperson Trooper Kelsey Harding. The second collision was not immediately reported to involve any injuries.

Harding said the closure will be extended and drivers should use alternate routes. Traffic is currently being diverted off the freeway to Lakeway Drive, WSP said. The Washington State Department of Transportation posted on X that WSP and a local fire department are both responding to the incident. The closure caused traffic to back up to Old Fairhaven Parkway by 6:45 p.m.

What Happened

Trooper Harding first posted about the collisions at 5:37 p.m., noting that the first collision involved a car and a semi-truck with injuries. When the vehicles collided, the load on the semi-truck shifted and the driver was trapped. The truck driver had to be extricated from his vehicle, but his injuries weren’t life-threatening, according to WSP.

Safety First

“This is a serious injury collision but not believed to be life-threatening injuries,” wrote Harding on X. “Tow trucks have been called, but delays are still expected. Please continue to use alternate routes.”

The crashes forced WSDOT to advise drivers to seek alternative routes and avoid the area if possible. Expect traffic delays. Visit the WSDOT website to see the latest traffic camera images.

The Aftermath

By 8:00 p.m., traffic was still being diverted to Lakeway Drive, and the collision was still blocking both lanes on I-5 northbound. WSDOT sent the alert at 5:44 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4, and is urging drivers to use alternate routes and expect delays. All northbound lanes on I-5 are blocked due to the collision near Lakeway Drive. Traffic is currently being diverted onto Lakeway Drive, and all cars must exit the interstate.

There is currently no estimated time of reopening of these lanes or information on the crash. Drivers can stay up to date on traffic delays by visiting the WSDOT website.

Impact on Traffic

The crashes have caused significant traffic disruptions in the area, with traffic backed up for miles. Drivers are urged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes if possible. The WSDOT is working to clear the scene and reopen the lanes as quickly as possible, but no estimated time of reopening has been announced.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.