Burlington, WA (January 9, 2026) – A serious two-vehicle crash early on Wednesday morning in downtown Burlington left four people injured and forced the temporary closure of a portion of state Route 20. Authorities say one of the drivers involved is suspected of driving under the influence and now faces multiple charges.
The collision occurred just before 1:00 a.m. on E Fairhaven Ave, shortly after a Burlington police officer attempted to stop a vehicle traveling at an “extremely high rate of speed.” The driver failed to stop and fled. Moments later, the same officer discovered the vehicle had collided with another car.
Emergency crews arrived quickly and found multiple victims with varying degrees of injury. The driver of the second vehicle, a 27-year-old man from Bellingham, was ejected during the crash and suffered serious injuries. He was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center. His passenger, a 33-year-old woman from Sedro-Woolley, had to be extricated from the wreck and was taken to Skagit Valley Hospital for treatment.
The driver of the fleeing vehicle, identified as a 24-year-old man from Mount Vernon, was evaluated at the scene and sustained minor injuries. Burlington police reported he showed signs of intoxication and was arrested and booked into Skagit County Jail on suspicion of DUI, vehicular assault, and eluding. His passenger, a 20-year-old Burlington man, also sustained serious injuries and was flown to Harborview Medical Center.
Tow crews cleared the wreckage and reopened the road shortly after 6:00 a.m. Investigators continue to review evidence and witness statements as the case develops.
Our thoughts are with all those injured in this devastating crash, and we hope for their full recovery.
