FERNDALE, Wash. — First responders were dispatched about 3:50pm on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, to the southbound lanes of I-5 south of the Main Street interchange in Ferndale due to reports of an injury crash.
Initial unconfirmed reports were that a northbound vehicle had crossed over the median colliding with 1 or more southbound vehicles.
According to the PulsePoint EMS dispatch log reporting system, at least 2 patients were transported from the crash scene to PeaceHealth St Joseph’s Medical Center by an ambulance and a medic unit.
As of 4pm, both lanes of southbound I-5 were closed to traffic.
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At 4:25pm, Washington State Patrol issued a statement saying this was “a multi-vehicle fatality collision” and “there is no ETA for the roadway to reopen” while troopers investigate the cause of the crash.
LaBounty Drive was closed adjacent to the crash scene due to the emergency response until about 4:40pm.
As of 4:45pm, a traffic backup in the northbound lanes stretched about 2 miles south of the Slater Road interchange.
Both lanes of southbound I-5 were reopened to traffic shortly after 9pm.
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The Washington State Patrol issued a press memo later that evening detailing the results of their initial investigation. In it they said a gray 2003 Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by a 27-year-old Blaine man was northbound on I-5 when it crossed the median and entered the southbound lanes. The Chevrolet struck a southbound white 2023 Tesla Model 3 sedan occupied by 2 Blaine women, age 22 and 23. The Chevrolet came to rest in the right lane where it was struck by a southbound silver 2024 Hyundai Tuscan SUV.
The driver of the Tesla was declared deceased at the scene. Her passenger and the driver of the Chevrolet were transported from the scene by aid crews to PeaceHealth St Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham. The occupants of the Hyundai, a 37-year-old man, a 20-year-old woman and an 8-year-old boy from Ferndale, were treated and released at the scene.
All vehicle occupants were determined have been wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. All vehicles were determined to be total losses.
Drugs or alcohol were determined to not have been involved in the cause of the crash.
The cause remained under investigation.
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