FERNDALE, Wash. — First responders were dispatched to the southbound lanes of I-5, at the Portal Way interchange about 2:35am on Friday, August 16th, due to reports of a vehicle versus motorcycle crash.
Whatcom County Fire District 7 interim Fire Chief Ben Boyko told Whatcom News that a southbound car had spun out, hit a barrier and came to rest blocking the right lane. The car was then t-boned by a southbound motorcyclist who ended up in the road about 100 feet further.
Washington State Patrol issued a press memo about 9am. According to their initial investigation, a 2005 Pontiac GTO coupe was entering southbound I-5 at the Portal Way interchange when it lost control and struck the left side barrier. A southbound 2006 Yamaha FJR1300 motorcycle was unable to stop in time and struck the Pontiac. The motorcyclist was identified as a 47-year-old Blaine man.
The Pontiac’s occupants were identified as 2 20-year-old men from Bellingham and Ferndale and an 18-year-old Ferndale woman. It was unknown if they were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. Drugs and/or alcohol were determined to have been involved.
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Boyko said aid personnel transported the motorcyclist to PeaceHealth St Joseph Medical Center in a medic unit via advanced life support (ALS) protocol. He described their condition as critical.
3 people from the car were transported as well but by ambulance via basic life support (BLS) protocol.
The Washington State Patrol arrested the driver of the Pontiac, identified as 20-year-old Collin Rene Cayo of Bellingham. He was booked into Whatcom County Jail and charged with suspicion of vehicular assault.
All southbound traffic was being diverted off I-5 and routed through Ferndale.
Both lanes were reopened shortly after 8am.
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