I-5 Crash Near Lake Samish Sends Two Drivers to Hospital

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A two-vehicle crash involving a water attenuator truck sent two drivers to the hospital and temporarily blocked a lane on Interstate 5 near Lake Samish on Tuesday evening.

This Crash Report is sponsored by CrashLaw.NET, a legal resource for crash victims in Whatcom County.

The collision occurred at approximately 5:05 p.m. June 23 on northbound Interstate 5 near North Lake Samish Drive at milepost 246, according to the Washington State Patrol and the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Emergency crews responded shortly after the crash was reported. Dispatch records show multiple Whatcom County Fire and EMS units arrived within minutes to assist injured motorists and manage traffic through the area.

Initially, WSDOT reported the collision blocked the right lane of northbound I-5. Traffic slowed through the corridor as emergency responders worked at the scene.

Crash Involved Water Attenuator Truck

According to Washington State Patrol Trooper Kelsey Harding, the crash involved two vehicles and a water attenuator truck.

Vehicle two was in the ditch.

— WSP Trooper Kelsey Harding

Paramedics transported both drivers to St. Joseph Medical Center for evaluation. The driver of the first vehicle suffered minor injuries. Meanwhile, Harding said there were no apparent injuries for the driver of the second vehicle.

Tow trucks removed both damaged vehicles from the scene.

Officials have not released the identities of the drivers, and investigators have not announced a cause of the crash.

I-5 Construction Continues Near Lake Samish

The I-5 crash near Lake Samish occurred near the active WSDOT fish-passage construction corridor south of Bellingham.

Drivers traveling through the area currently encounter work zones and an advisory speed limit of 50 mph as crews continue a multiyear project to replace outdated culverts beneath Interstate 5 and improve fish migration habitat.

The $159.6 million project includes work at Lake Creek, an unnamed tributary near North Lake Samish Drive and Chuckanut Creek. Construction is expected to continue through winter 2028.

According to WSDOT, most work at the Lake Creek crossing near Exit 246 is complete. However, crews continue finishing work in the area. Additional fish-passage construction is planned at nearby crossings over the next several years.

WSDOT says the project will open miles of upstream habitat for salmon, steelhead and other native fish species while addressing barriers identified under a federal court injunction.

Officials continue to urge drivers to slow down, follow posted speed advisories and remain alert when traveling through construction zones along the Interstate 5 corridor.

Frequently Asked Questions