A stolen vehicle flipped on I-5 near Vancouver Wednesday morning, blocking lanes for hours. Troopers say the driver fled on foot. (Trooper Dakota Russell)
BLAINE, Wash. — After overturning a vehicle, a driver fled a crash on I-5 and blocked multiple lanes at Exit 21 Wednesday morning, causing delays for several hours.
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According to the Washington State Patrol, the collision happened around 6:48 a.m. on March 18 at milepost 21 in southwest Washington. The crash blocked both the right and center lanes, which slowed traffic for several hours.
As crews responded, traffic backed up through the corridor. By mid-morning, crews reopened the right lane; however, delays continued as responders worked the scene.
“The driver of the vehicle fled on foot after the collision,” Trooper Dakota Russell said. Russell confirmed the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Seattle.
Investigators have not released details on possible injuries.
Meanwhile, troopers advised drivers to use caution while crews cleared debris and continued their investigation.
Crash scene shows overturned vehicle along guardrail
The scene shows a heavily damaged vehicle resting upside down against the guardrail, with debris scattered along the shoulder. Emergency crews staged vehicles farther down the roadway while responders directed traffic and assessed the crash.
Crews used a large tow truck with a crane to lift the overturned vehicle off the guardrail.
This is a breaking news story.
SB I-5 MP 21 – recovery of the vehicle has begun. Roadway will be fully opened shortly! pic.twitter.com/AvRnvlQZAo
We asked Ziad Youssef at Bellingham Injury Law, Home of CrashLaw.NET, what drivers should expect if a stolen vehicle causes a crash.
“If a stolen car crashes into yours, we would typically file a claim under your own collision coverage or uninsured motorist property damage coverage,” Youssef said. “The thief is responsible, but since they likely won’t have insurance, your insurer handles the damage, usually requiring you to pay a deductible.”
In most cases, drivers rely on their own policy to cover repairs, while insurance companies may later attempt to recover costs from the at-fault party.
Auto insurance follows the driver when they have permission. A thief does not have permission, so the owner’s liability coverage generally does not apply.
PNW Daily brings you this traffic report is part of the ongoing crash report series sponsored by CrashLaw.NET. If you’ve been seriously injured, give Ziad Youssef and the team a call today at (360) 255-5046.
