By Crash News Writer 
Ridgefield, WA (July 9, 2025) — An early morning collision on Interstate 5 turned deadly Saturday when a two-vehicle crash near 179th Street claimed the life of a young passenger and injured four others. The tragic incident unfolded around 4:52 a.m. on July 6, 2025, along the I-5 southbound lanes at milepost 11, according to the Washington State Patrol (WSP).
According to reports, Vehicle One rear-ended Vehicle Two in lane one before crossing multiple lanes, hitting a cable barrier, and coming to rest on the left shoulder. The second vehicle veered off the road, crashed through a Department of Transportation fence, and blocked Delfel Road. Sadie L. Bobo, 19, of Portland, was killed in the crash. The driver, Skylar Wainis, 23, of Longview, was arrested on suspicion of DUI, vehicular homicide, and vehicular assault. He and another passenger were transported to an area hospital with injuries.
During cleanup and investigation, a separate crash occurred at 7:14 a.m. when a driver, identified as Noam Wecksler, 20, of Portland, drove his vehicle into the back of a fully marked Washington State Department of Transportation truck that was providing traffic control. The WSDOT worker inside was hospitalized with minor injuries. Wecksler was cited for negligent driving, speeding, violating a road closure, and using a personal electronic device while driving.
The freeway was shut down for several hours, with traffic diverted while investigators processed the scene and crews worked to remove the damaged vehicles.
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PLEASE TAKE NOTICE
The information in this article is based on initial reports from local authorities and may be subject to updates as investigations continue.
- The identities of those involved in the incident have not been released pending official confirmation and notification of next of kin.
- Further details about the accident, including toxicology results and potential charges, will be shared as they become available.
- Road closures and traffic updates related to the accident scene can be found by checking with local authorities or traffic monitoring services.
The content of this news story is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice. All information is based on public reports at the time of publication, and details may change as investigations progress. Readers are encouraged to seek legal counsel if they or someone they know have been involved in a similar incident. The publisher assumes no liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this article. Learn more with our disclaimer.