Executive Summary
- Fatal Incident on I-5: A person died after jumping from a moving tour bus on northbound Interstate 5 near Lake Samish Road.
- Police Response: Washington State Patrol confirmed the fatality and blocked the right lane for investigation.
- Traffic Impact: Significant delays were reported, with traffic backed up approximately four miles as of Sunday evening.
A fatal incident occurred on northbound Interstate 5 near Lake Samish Road on Sunday afternoon after an individual reportedly jumped from a moving commercial tour bus. The Washington State Patrol (WSP) confirmed the fatality and subsequently closed the right lane of the highway to conduct an investigation.
Authorities first received reports of the incident around 3:30 p.m. According to WSP District 7 Trooper Kelsey Harding, the accident involved a subject who exited a moving commercial vehicle. Emergency crews responded to the scene, and the lane closure remained in effect into the evening as investigators worked.
As of 5 p.m., WSP reported that traffic was backed up for approximately four miles, starting just south of the Lake Samish exit. Law enforcement officials did not provide an immediate estimate for when the lane would reopen to normal traffic flow.
Investigative Outlook
The Washington State Patrol is currently leading the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the fatality. Investigators are expected to interview the bus driver and passengers to establish a timeline of events and determine the factors that led to the individual exiting the vehicle. While the immediate priority remains the on-site forensic examination, the incident underscores the operational challenges of managing highway closures during high-traffic periods while preserving the integrity of a fatality scene.
