A bicyclist was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with life-threatening injuries Tuesday morning after being struck by two vehicles on northbound Interstate 5 south of Bellingham, near the Lake Samish interchange. The crash prompted a multi-agency response and forced the closure of all northbound lanes during the peak midday commute.
First responders were dispatched to the scene around 11:05 a.m. on April 21, 2026, following reports of a vehicle crash involving a bicyclist on northbound I-5 near exit 246 at North Lake Samish Road. Bellingham Fire Department crews responded alongside South Whatcom Fire Authority, and an Airlift Northwest helicopter was dispatched approximately 20 minutes later. The helicopter landed directly on the closed highway lanes to transport the patient.
According to a press memo released by Washington State Patrol Trooper Kelsey Harding, the crash involved two passenger vehicles. A 2005 KIA sedan driven by a 23-year-old Blaine woman was traveling northbound in the left lane when the collision occurred. An 18-year-old was also driving a 2009 Honda Fit hatchback involved in the sequence of events. Two additional people were assessed at the scene by medics and released without transport.
All northbound lanes of I-5 were closed while first responders worked the scene. Traffic was diverted off the freeway at exit 246, North Lake Samish Road. Drivers heading toward the Canadian border and communities like Ferndale, Blaine, and Birch Bay were caught in significant backups during the closure.
The Bellingham Fire Department noted that Airlift Northwest transported the patient to Harborview and urged travelers to seek alternate routes. Washington State Patrol handled the investigation. No names of those involved have been released.
Airlift Northwest regularly serves the region's most serious trauma cases, transporting patients from Whatcom County to Level I trauma centers. Harborview Medical Center, operated by UW Medicine, is the designated trauma center for the most severe injuries across Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho.
The condition of the bicyclist had not been updated publicly as of Tuesday evening. The WSP investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the WSP Bellingham District office.
Residents are reminded that I-5 remains off-limits for bicycle travel. The City of Bellingham and Whatcom County maintain an extensive network of multi-use trails and bike lanes. For route planning, the City's biking resources page offers maps and safety information for cyclists of all experience levels.
