Updated: Multiple vehicle crashes on I-5 close all northbound lanes for 8 hours

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — About 5pm on Wednesday, September 4th, first responders were dispatched to the northbound lanes of I-5 in Bellingham due to reports of a blocking crash involving 4 cars and a semi-truck and trailer. All northbound lanes were blocked.

UPDATE: On NB I-5 just north of Lakeway Drive in #Bellingham, a collision is blocking all lanes.

State Patrol and The Fire Department are on the scene.

Seek alternate routes and expect significant delays in the area. https://t.co/Ujhko7u9oW pic.twitter.com/kjlHREyPI1— WSDOT North (@wsdot_north) September 5, 2024

Initial reports from the scene were that the semi-truck driver was injured and unable to self-extricate. Other involved motorists were reportedly uninjured.

Washington State Patrol (WSP) reported there were actually 2 crashes, a car versus semi-truck crash and the other involving 3 cars. They reported the semi-truck driver’s injuries were serious but not believed to be life-threatening.

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According to the PulsePoint EMS dispatch log reporting system, at least 1 patient was transported from the crash scene to PeaceHealth St Joseph’s Medical Center by a medic unit.

Per WSP radio transmissions from the scene, the trailer’s entire load had shifted during the crash, pushing into the semi-truck’s cab.

Traffic was diverted off I-5 and onto Bellingham side streets via the Lakeway Drive and other off-ramps to the south. Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) reported delays were to be expected.

Traffic flow map as of 6pm on September 4, 2024. Source: WSDOT

WSDOT reported all northbound lanes were reopened about 1:30am on Thursday, September 5th.

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The next day, WSP Trooper Kelsey Harding told Whatcom News they are handling the investigation into the car versus semi-truck crash and that investigation was still ongoing. It appeared that the semi-truck struck the car. During the crash, the load on the trailer shifted and went through the cab of the semi-truck.

The driver of the car struck by the semi-truck was taken by family members to a walk-in clinic to assess any injuries according to Harding.

Harding also said the extended road closure was due to the complications in clearing the damaged semi-truck trailer and its load. The cab was damaged enough that it could not be towed and was a concern about being able to clear under overpasses.