Tour bus crashes just north of Smokey Point

ARLINGTON — Traffic has been backed up for miles following a tour bus crash on southbound I-5 just north of Smokey Point.

The Herald / Michael O’Leary A Trailways bus from British Columbia left I-5 at Smokey Point and crashed injuring the driver and three passengers. There were 15 passengers plus the driver on the southbound bus.

The bus driver apparently lost control of the Canadian-based bus swerved across three lanes of traffic and crashed into the median. No other vehicles were involved in the crash. The bus driver was taken to Providence Everett Medical Center in serious condition. Three passengers were taken to a local hospital for minor injuries, Washington State Patrol trooper K.C. Scott said.

It isn’t clear if the driver fell asleep or suffered a medical condition, Scott said.

Two lanes of the freeway were closed since 8:34 a.m. A crew removed the bus from the median and cleared off the debris by about 11:30 a.m.