Interstate 5 is closed northbound and one lane is closed southbound due to a fatal shooting and multi-vehicle accident on Saturday, July 18, in the morning near Mount Vernon. The current Washington State Department of Transportation reports show at least a 6-mile backup going north. Drivers on 1-5 are being told to expect traffic delays and to consider taking alternative routes. The investigation of the fatal shooting that happened around 3 a.m. Saturday morning is ongoing, and the suspected vehicle has not been found. The identities of the two people killed have not been released to the public. Both are believed to be Skagit County residents, state trooper Mark Francis told the Skagit Valley Herald. The second accident occurred around 8:30 a.m. and involved a dump-truck and two dozen vehicles. There are no reports of fatalities from the multi-car accident.
