All lanes of Interstate 5 were closed Friday afternoon as a woman in crisis hung off the Sunset Drive bridge.
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — First responders shut down all lanes of Interstate 5 near Sunset Drive on Friday afternoon after a woman experiencing a mental health crisis climbed onto an overhead freeway sign above the northbound lanes.
PNW Daily was there as onlookers gathered on the pedestrian walkway over I-5 to the south, the woman in a blue shirt hung over the interstate while crisis responders worked to talk her down.
Emergency crews blocked traffic in both directions on the Sunset Drive bridge and closed both directions of I-5 as officers worked to safely resolve the situation.
“Police activity I-5 northbound at Sunset which has required the closure of the Sunset bridge deck over I-5 in both directions,” the Bellingham Police Department said on Facebook Friday. “This is causing heavy backups. We recommend avoiding this entire area.”
The closure quickly overwhelmed nearby side streets as traffic backed up throughout the area.
Crisis Team Responds to Scene
BPD site commander and Public Information Officer Lt. Claudia Murphy worked to keep first responders safe as a mental health specialist arrived on scene.
“All I can tell you at the moment is that the bridge deck is closed and all lanes of I-5 are closed as we work to clear the incident,” Murphy said.
Once the crisis team arrived, officials worked desperately to keep the woman from jumping or falling onto the interstate below.
It remains unclear whether the woman was suicidal or under the influence of drugs. The woman appeared to be from the unhoused community. Officials have not released information about her condition or the circumstances leading up to the incident.
Out of an abundance of caution, we made the decision to close the bridge deck and both lanes of I-5. The situation resolved itself peacefully and the individual is receiving the assistance needed.
— Bellingham Police Department
How the Scene Unfolded
Traffic initially kept moving under the sign for the upcoming Meridian and Bellis Fair exits while the situation developed above.
Some drivers exiting the freeway took video while others called 911.
At first, WSDOT did not post the closure on social media. However, a WSDOT traffic camera near Sunset Drive captured the scene. The camera sits north of the bridge facing south, so it showed emergency crews blocking the lanes but could not capture the woman on the sign or what unfolded on the bridge side.
Interstate Reopened Friday Afternoon
Police later confirmed the situation ended peacefully.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we made the decision to close the bridge deck and both lanes of I-5,” BPD said in a follow-up Facebook post. “The situation resolved itself peacefully and the individual is receiving the assistance needed.”
Officials reopened all lanes of I-5 around 2:45 p.m.
“There were many agencies who helped today and we are grateful for the assist,” officials said.
Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can also chat online at 988lifeline.org.
For local crisis support in Whatcom County, contact Compass Health at 1-800-407-2994.
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