A motorcyclist was killed early Thursday, Feb. 13, traveling northbound on southbound I-5 near Burlington following a chase with law enforcement.
The driver of the motorcycle was a 43-year-old man from Mount Vernon, said Mike Lumpkin, a detective with the Burlington City Police Department.
Around 3 a.m., Washington State Patrol attempted to stop the motorcylce that was traveling northbound on I-5 near Bow Hill for speeding, Lumpkin said. The rider exited at I-5 at the Bow Hill exit and then immediately got back onto I-5 southbound at Bow Hill.
The motorcyclist did not stop and fled southbound before exiting at College Way in Mount Vernon. The trooper then discontinued the pursuit.
The motorcyclist was found by a trooper in Mount Vernon and another traffic stop was attempted. The rider fled and reentered I-5 at College Way traveling northbound in the southbound lanes, Lumpkin said. The trooper discontinued the chase.
The motorcycle was approaching the Skagit River Bridge when it struck a part of the bridge and ejected the rider, Lumpkin said. The rider was then hit by an oncoming semi-truck.
The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other injuries.
Skagit-Island SMART has been asked to investigate the collision on behalf of WSP. The investigation remains ongoing.
Southbound I-5 at George Hopper Road was closed because of the crash around 4 a.m. The interstate reopened just before 7 a.m.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
