WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — First responders were dispatched to the northbound lanes of I-5 south of Bellingham about 11:05am on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, due to report of a vehicle crash involving a bicyclist.
An Airlift Northwest helicopter was dispatched to the scene about 11:25am. It landed on the closed lanes. The patient was being flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle from the scene with life-threatening injuries.
Two people were assessed and released at the scene by medics.
All lanes of northbound I-5 were reportedly closed while first responders were working the scene. All northbound traffic is being diverted off of I-5 at N Lake Samish Road (exit 246). This is the same route used during the recent landslide caused lanes closure.
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According to Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper Kelsey Harding, the crash involved 2 cars and the bicyclist.
WSP released a press memo about 6:45 detailing the incident as follows.
- a 2005 KIA sedan driven by a 23-year-old Blaine woman was northbound in the left lane
- a 2009 Honda Fit hatchback driven by an 18-year-old Sedro-Woolley woman was northbound in the right lane
- a 50-year-old bicyclist from Bellingham was northbound on the right shoulder
- the Honda merged into the left lane and was struck by the KIA
- the Honda rotated, striking a guardrail and the bicyclist
- the Honda and the KIA came to rest in the right lane
- the bicyclist came to rest off the roadway to the right
It is unknown if drugs or alcohol were involved. The drivers were the only occupants in their cars. Both were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. Both vehicles were towed from the scene and impounded.
Washington State Department of Transportation reported a lane was reopened through the crash scene about 12:25pm.
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The incident is close to milepost 249 according to a WSP Trooper on scene. This is close to the west/north end of the recent landslide area that resulted in closing the lanes for several weeks.
WSDOT announced both lanes were reopened by 3:45pm.
Readers are encouraged to stay up to date on local driving conditions via the Whatcom News Traffic page.
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