Two motorcyclists killed in three-vehicle crash on southbound I-205Free

Two people were killed Friday in a crash involving a motorcycle that forced all lanes of southbound Interstate 205 to close, causing hourslong traffic backups throughout the area.

The Washington State Patrol said David W. Warford, 61, and Deborah A. Warford, 59, both of Vancouver, died after being transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Washington Medical Center after the noontime crash on I-205 just north of Burton Road.

A State Patrol Bulletin said the Warfords were riding their Harley Davidson motorcycle south on the freeway when they crashed into the rear of a Ford F-150 pickup that had slowed for traffic.

The motorcycle then went into the freeway’s center lane, where it was struck by a Nissan Sentra that had been in that lane, according to the State Patrol.

The driver of the pickup, Richard F. Ryan, 68, of Vancouver was not injured, nor was the driver of the Nissan, Gabriella V. Aguilera, 42, of Vancouver.

All lanes of I-205 southbound were closed between Padden Parkway and Burton Road shortly before 1 p.m. By 1:15 p.m. crews were able to let some traffic snake past in the left lane. All southbound lanes reopened about 2:20 p.m.

By 12:20 p.m., southbound traffic — which was at a complete stop — had backed up to Padden Parkway before the freeway closures were in place.

Heavy traffic on northbound I-205 delayed some emergency response.

Traffic was already delayed on Interstate 5 — slowing back to Highway 500 — because of an earlier crash and vegetation fire.