BELLINGHAM - A 21-year-old suspected drunk driver died in a crash on an Interstate 5 off-ramp early Tuesday, Jan. 29.
Christopher P. Andrews of Bellingham was headed north on the freeway at 12:21 a.m. when he exited toward Bellis Fair mall and took the ensuing corner too fast, said Washington State Patrol Trooper Mark Francis. The black 2003 Hyundai Tiberon spun clockwise, then slammed on the driver's side into a traffic light pole.
Andrews, who wore a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene.
His blood-alcohol content will be determined by the Whatcom County Medical Examiner's Office, but troopers believe he was drunk and driving too fast.
Roads were blocked for almost four hours while troopers investigated.
Reach Caleb Hutton at 360-715-2276 or caleb.hutton@bellinghamherald.com. Read his dispatcher blog at blogs.bellinghamherald.com/dispatcher or follow him on Twitter at @bhamcrime.
