Man arrested after driving wrong way on I-5

Washington State Patrol (WSP) troopers arrested a man who caused a car crash driving the wrong way on I-5 during a mental health crisis October 2.

A 53-year-old Port Angeles man began driving southbound on northbound I-5, just south of the Peace Arch border crossing, around 12:25 p.m. October 2, WSP public information officer Rocky Oliphant said. The man parked his tan 2017 Jeep Cherokee in the right northbound lane and, without clothing, began walking in and out of the left lane, Oliphant said.

A driver of a green 2000 Honda Accord rolled off the road while attempting to avoid hitting the man and his vehicle. No injuries were sustained.

WSP received a call at 12:29 p.m. that the man had resumed driving southbound on northbound I-5. About 20 minutes later, WSP troopers located the man’s unoccupied vehicle about four miles away at a house on Birch Bay-Lynden Road. The man, wearing pants, approached officers and warned he had a bomb that he’d detonate, Oliphant said. Officers didn’t find a bomb, arrested the man and involuntarily committed him to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham.

Troopers temporarily blocked both lanes on I-5, Oliphant said.