Bicyclist killed in I-5 crash near Ridgefield

A bicyclist riding on Interstate 5 near Ridgefield was killed in a crash early Monday morning.

A male in his late teens or early 20s was riding a bicycle south on the freeway in the left lane when he was struck by a southbound 1996 Saturn Ion at around 2:30 a.m., Washington State Patrol Trooper Will Finn said.

The bicyclist died at the scene, he said.

The driver of the vehicle, 20-year-old Luke Gill of Vancouver, didn’t have a working cellphone and left the scene to get help, Finn said.

Gill drove to the 179th Street exit and to a gas station, but it was closed, Finn said. However, a Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputy spotted the damaged vehicle and notified State Patrol.

The incident first was reported as a hit-and-run, Finn said, but detectives are verifying the driver’s story. Gill has been cooperative with troopers throughout the investigation.

The identity of the bicyclist was not released.

Finn said the stretch of I-5 where the crash occurred is very dark at night because it has no street lights.

Sections of the freeway were closed for more than two hours while traffic detectives investigated.

Bicyclists are allowed on the right shoulder of I-5 north of Milepost 8, which is the Interstate 205 junction, though it is not allowed south of that point, Finn said.