An early Friday morning crash on I-5 near Ferndale left one person dead and four people injured. Two people were arrested in connection to the crash that the Washington State Patrol believes was the result of drugs or alcohol.
Washington State Patrol deputies responded to a crash around 2:38 a.m. near MP 263 southbound on I-5, according to a press release. A 2005 Pontiac GTO was entering southbound on I-5 from Portal Way when it lost control and hit the left side barrier. It then came to rest in the lane.
A 2006 Yamaha motorcycle was also traveling southbound on I-5 and when the Pontiac lost control, the driver of the motorcycle was unable to stop and hit the vehicle, according to the press release. The motorcycle and its rider came to rest in the lane.
During the investigation, both lanes remained blocked and WSP encouraged drivers to seek alternative routes.
The driver of the motorcycle, Evan Hayes, 47 from Blaine, was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he died of his injuries, according to the press release. He was wearing a helmet.
The four people inside the Pontiac were taken to PeaceHealth St. Joseph for injuries, according to the press release. It’s unknown if any of them were wearing seatbelts.
Two of the four people, including the driver of the Pontiac, were booked into the Whatcom County Jail a few hours after the crash, according to the online jail log.
The 20-year-old driver from Bellingham was arrested on probable cause of vehicular homicide, according to the log.
A 20-year-old passenger from Ferndale was arrested on probable cause, including three counts of driving with a suspended license, one charge for negligent driving and a warrant out for a domestic violation protection order. He’s being held on a $7,500 bond, according to the log.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
