Fatal I-5 Crash in Ferndale Leaves One Dead After Truck Crosses Median
PNW Daily was on scene and confirmed that all southbound lanes were shut down for several hours as emergency crews worked the crash site and investigators documented the scene.
A fatal multi-vehicle crash on I-5 in Ferndale left one person dead Tuesday after a truck crossed the median. Lanes reopened around 9:15 p.m.
FERNDALE, Wash. — A multi-vehicle crash on southbound Interstate 5 in Ferndale left at least one person dead Tuesday evening after a northbound pickup truck crossed the median and struck multiple vehicles, according to the Washington State Patrol and video shared publicly on social media.
The crash happened between Smith Road and the Main Street exit during rush hour traffic.
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PNW Daily was on scene and confirmed that all southbound lanes were shut down for several hours as emergency crews worked the crash site and investigators documented the scene.
Authorities have confirmed at least one fatality. Multiple outlets have identified the victim as 22-year-old Momina Khan of Blaine, who was driving a southbound Tesla Model 3. Emergency responders pronounced her dead at the scene.
Her passenger, another 22-year-old woman from Blaine, suffered injuries and medics transported her to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham.
Investigators are examining whether they will file charges against the wrong-way driver, a 27-year-old man from Blaine who was driving a Chevrolet Silverado. Authorities have said they do not suspect alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash.
What the video shows
Video shared by Seattle-area photographer Steve Hickey, known online as “Photog Steve,” shows a black pickup truck traveling northbound suddenly veering left, crossing the median, and entering the southbound lanes.
The footage, originally captured by a closed-circuit surveillance camera from MRC Global facing I-5 from an access road in Ferndale, shows the truck striking a small white sedan head-on in the southbound cruising lane.
The impact caused catastrophic damage to the sedan. The driver’s side was crushed, the front end was torn apart, and the vehicle spun across the roadway.
Seconds later, a second vehicle, a small SUV traveling in the southbound passing lane, clipped the truck. That vehicle sustained heavy damage, though less severe than the sedan.
A deadly stretch of highway
The fatal crash occurred along a stretch of I-5 that has already drawn scrutiny for its high rate of serious and deadly collisions.
As PNW Daily recently reported, the segment of Interstate 5 between Lakeway Drive in Bellingham and Main Street in Ferndale ranks among the most dangerous highway corridors in Washington state.
Data shows the area recorded more than 200 crashes in 2024 alone, averaging nearly one crash per day. Between 2019 and 2023, that same stretch saw nine fatal crashes resulting in 10 deaths, placing it among the top 10 deadliest 10-mile road segments statewide.
Why this corridor sees so many crashes
Traffic safety experts point to several factors that make this portion of I-5 particularly hazardous.
Closely spaced interchanges reduce reaction time for drivers merging on and off the freeway. Ramp backups frequently spill into travel lanes, creating sudden slowdowns.
High-speed through traffic mixes with slower-moving vehicles entering and exiting the highway, while heavy commercial and cross-border traffic adds congestion and increases crash risk.
Local drivers have long reported abrupt backups near the Iowa Street, Portal Way, and Main Street ramps, a pattern that has repeatedly contributed to serious collisions.
Lanes reopened after hours-long closure
PNW Daily observed crews clearing the crash scene shortly after 9 p.m. Southbound lanes reopened around 9:15 p.m., allowing traffic to begin moving again after hours of gridlock.
Traffic remained slow through central Ferndale as congestion gradually eased.
Investigation ongoing
Washington State Patrol has not yet released an official cause of the crash. It remains unclear why the northbound truck crossed the median.
Troopers have not said whether speed, impairment, medical emergency, mechanical failure, or other factors played a role.
More information is expected as the investigation continues.
This article is part of a sponsored Crash Report series.
