Two-Vehicle Crash Blocks I-5 Near Ferndale in High-Crash Corridor

FERNDALE, Wash. — A two-vehicle collision temporarily blocked the left lane of northbound Interstate 5 just north of Smith Road in Ferndale on Thursday evening.

The Washington State Department of Transportation reported the collision near milepost 261, where it blocked the left lane and disrupted northbound traffic shortly after 5 pm.

Whatcom County Fire District 7 firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded to the scene. Images from the incident show two passenger vehicles that left the roadway and came to rest in roadside vegetation. Emergency responders assessed the scene as crews worked around the vehicles.

WSDOT later reported that crews had cleared the collision and reopened the lane about 6:30 pm. Authorities have not released information about injuries, the cause of the crash or the identities of those involved.

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

Whatcom County traffic fatalities increased in 2025

The collision occurred along a stretch of I-5 between Bellingham and Ferndale that has experienced repeated crashes. PNW Daily’s previous reporting of Washington Traffic Safety Commission data found that Whatcom County recorded 14 traffic fatalities in 2025, up from 12 in 2024.

The increase came as Washington recorded a statewide decline in traffic deaths. The state reported 659 fatalities in 2025, down from 730 in 2024 and 809 in 2023.

The commission’s dashboard also identified several contributing factors in Whatcom County’s fatal crashes in 2025:

• 61% involved a speeding driver.
• 47% involved an impaired driver.
• 23% involved a distracted driver.
• 36% of fatalities involved unrestrained occupants.

The county’s unrestrained fatality rate was nearly double the statewide rate, according to the dashboard data.

These figures reflect fatal crashes across Whatcom County, including interstate highways, rural roads and city streets. They do not establish the cause of Thursday’s collision.

I-5 corridor sees recurring crashes

Previous PNW Daily reporting found that the I-5 corridor between Bellingham and Ferndale recorded more than 200 crashes in 2024. Between 2019 and 2023, nine fatal crashes along the stretch killed 10 people, placing it among Washington’s 10 deadliest 10-mile road segments.

Closely spaced interchanges, merging traffic, congestion near freeway ramps and heavy commercial and cross-border traffic contribute to challenging driving conditions along the corridor.

Drivers traveling through the area encounter frequent traffic slowdowns, particularly near major interchanges, where sudden braking and merging vehicles can create hazards.

WSDOT confirmed that Thursday’s collision had cleared, allowing northbound traffic to resume normal movement. Authorities have not released further details about the crash.

PNW Daily will continue to report on significant collisions and traffic safety concerns along Interstate 5 in Whatcom County.

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