WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — First responders were dispatched to the southbound lanes of I-5 in the area of Zell Road in Custer about 11:30pm on Sunday, August 31, 2025, due to reports of a crash.
Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper Kelsey Harding reported this was a 2-car serious injury collision.
Washington State Department of Transportation reported all lanes of southbound I-5 were closed with traffic detoured off I-5 from the Birth Bay-Lynden Road interchange to Grandview Road interchange via Portal Way.
All lanes were reportedly reopened about 5:50am.
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According to a WSP press memo, a black 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe occupied by 2 adults and a 2-year-old child from Kirkland and a green 2001 Lexus LS occupied by a 40-year-old Ferndale man were southbound on I-5. The Lexus rearended the Hyundai at a high rate of speed. The Lexus came to rest on the right shoulder and the Hyundai ended up in the median.
The 3 occupants of the Hyundai were transported to PeaceHealth St Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham. The adults had been wearing seatbelts and the child was “properly restrained in a rear facing car seat” at the time of the crash.
The driver of the Lexus, identified as Victor Ryan Sweet, fled the scene on foot to the west. He was located by law enforcement and taken into custody.
Sweet was arrested and booked into Whatcom County Jail charged with the following.
- 2nd-degree driving while his license was suspended
- operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock device
- hit and run
- driving under the influence
- vehicular assault
As of 7am, September 2, 2025, Sweet remained in custody at the jail.
Readers are encouraged to stay up to date on local driving conditions via the Whatcom News Traffic page.
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