Several people injured at party near Everson

PETER JENSEN - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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EVERSON -- Three people were injured and taken to St. Joseph Hospital after a stolen car struck them at a birthday party near Everson early Saturday morning, Sept. 26.

One man has been arrested and Whatcom County Sheriff�s deputies continue to search for two others in connection with the case.

Deputies and officers with the Lynden, Sumas and Everson police departments were called out to the party, which was at the Glen Echo Community Center, at about 1 a.m., said Sgt. Kevin Hester of the Sheriff�s Office.

Hester said several people had called 911 to report shots being fired in a parking lot outside the commu-nity center, and later to report three people being run over by a car.

When deputies arrived, they were able to determine that three men, believed to members of a gang, fired several rounds into the air from a car and then tried to flee, Sheriff Bill Elfo said. The car was later confirmed stolen from an area near Lynden on Friday, Hester said.

While driving off they struck and injured the three people and then wrecked the car, Hester said. One woman suffered serious injuries to her throat and liver and remains hospitalized, Elfo said.

The men then attempted to flee on foot or in other people�s cars, but members of the party were able to detain one person.

That person, identified as Timoteo Hernandez, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault and sev-eral other charges, Elfo said. He was taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries he suffered while being detained, Hester said.

Crime-scene analysts were continuing their investigation Saturday, Elfo said.