By David Rasbach / The Bellingham Herald
BELLINGHAM — A man driving northbound on I-5 was killed after being involved in three collisions in icy conditions that caused at least 13 crashes in about an hour just south of Bellingham Tuesday morning, Dec. 21.
The Washington State Patrol identified the man as 54-year-old David L. Taylor of Bellingham in its incident report.
Taylor, who was driving a silver 1998 Chevrolet pickup, was involved in a single-vehicle crash near the North Lake Samish exit (milepost 246) at approximately 6:15 a.m. Tuesday, Trooper Jacob Kennett told The Bellingham Herald. The car ended up coming to rest on its top.
The pickup was resting on the right shoulder of the freeway, according to the release.
“We’re not sure if the driver self extracted, or if someone helped him out, but he got out and was sitting outside his vehicle,” Kennett told The Herald.
At about 6:36 a.m., a white 2003 Ford Econoline van driven by a 20-year-old woman from Marysville that was headed northbound through the area lost control and struck a black 2011 Toyota Tacoma being driven by a 29-year-old man from Sedro-Woolley, according to the report. The van then struck Taylor’s pickup, pushing it into Taylor.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, according to the report, and no impairment is suspected. No injuries were reported to the drivers of the van or the Tacoma.
South Whatcom Fire Authority and Bellingham Fire Department crews were called to an expanded traffic collision in the area at 6:17 a.m., according to the PulsePoint app.
South Whatcom Fire Chief Rod Topel told The Herald medics transported a patient in critical condition from the scene.
But that ambulance was involved in a third collision, Kennett told The Herald. Topel reported that none of the emergency crews involved in that crash reported injuries that needed immediate medical attention.
A second ambulance took the man to the hospital, Kennett reported, where he was pronounced dead after life-saving efforts failed.
Kennett first tweeted about the incident at 8:04 a.m., writing that the right lane would be blocked on northbound I-5 at North Lake Samish Road (milepost 246).
“We sympathize with everyone affected by this event and our hearts go out to them. Please slow down, move over, and drive safely through the area,” Kennett wrote.
Between approximately 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., Kennett said the State Patrol was notified of 13 crashes on I-5 between the Old Fairhaven Parkway and Nulle Road exits.
“My understanding was there was freezing rain or black ice on the roads at that time, and the conditions were very slick,” Topel said.
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