MOUNT VERNON - A pedestrian was struck and killed by a Washington State Patrol vehicle en route to a call Tuesday night, Aug. 14.
Trooper Mark Francis and another trooper in a separate vehicle were southbound on Interstate 5 when they received reports a motorist had displayed a rifle on northbound Interstate 5.
The two marked patrol cars were taking the southbound I-5 East College Way exit to turn around when the pedestrian crossed in front of Francis' patrol car and was hit, according to a report from Trooper Keith Leary, the public information officer for the WSP Marysville office.
The second trooper did not hit the pedestrian, according to the report.
The 26-year-old man died at the scene, Leary reported. His identity had not been released as of Wednesday evening.
Francis has worked for the WSP for five years.
Both the WSP and the Mount Vernon Police Department are investigating the incident. Investigators were still interviewing those involved and had yet to determine if the patrol cars had lights and sirens on at the time.
As for the rifle incident, no one was injured or arrested. After a driver in a white pickup supposedly threatened another driver with a rifle in the Starbird Road area, the truck continued north on I-5 and was not found.
Reach SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL at samantha.wohlfeil@bellinghamherald.com or 360-715-2264.
