A person in crisis on the I-5 near the I-405 on-ramp in Portland has caused significant traffic delays, with the southbound lane closed and backups on both north and southbound lanes. Portland Police, including their Crisis Negotiation Team, and the SERT Rope Rescue Team are on the scene. The situation is ongoing, and updates will follow. The public is reminded of the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline available at 988 for anyone in need.
Northbound lanes of I-5 in downtown Seattle have been reopened after being blocked for hours by protestors advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza. The protest led to significant traffic disruption, with a backup extending over six miles. Washington State Patrol and WSDOT managed the situation, resulting in the towing of 12 abandoned vehicles.
In Seattle, demonstrators demanding a ceasefire in Gaza blocked the northbound lanes of I-5 near Pine Street, causing a three-mile traffic backup and diversions onto eastbound I-90. Seattle Police towed vehicles and issued dispersal orders to clear the protesters, who also blocked overpasses and set off fireworks. The situation is developing, and updates are expected.
On New Year's Eve, Cincinnati experienced multiple street takeovers where drivers blocked traffic and performed stunts at busy intersections, repeating similar disruptions from October. The incidents, which included close calls and a chase as police arrived, were captured on security cameras. No arrests have been made, but footage has been shared with the police. Ohio lawmakers are considering House Bill 56 to increase penalties for such actions, elevating fleeing from police to a felony.
On New Year's Day, a pro-Palestinian car caravan caused significant traffic delays near JFK Airport, leading the NYPD to advise passengers to arrive early for flights. The protest later moved towards LaGuardia Airport, disrupting traffic there as well. This follows recent protests that have similarly affected traffic and led to arrests in New York and Los Angeles, as part of ongoing demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas conflict.
A BART train derailed and caught fire near Orinda, California, leading to nine passengers being hospitalized with no major injuries reported. The incident caused the closure of two eastbound lanes of state Highway 24 and the suspension of the Yellow Line service between Lafayette and Orinda stations. A crane operation is underway to remove the damaged train, and a bus bridge is provided for affected commuters. The derailment, which occurred after a computer failure and manual track switching, is under investigation. Officials have not confirmed when regular service will resume.
