Medical problems may have had role in crash

CAT SIEH

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BELLINGHAM — A man whose truck hit a curb and struck two parked cars near the busy Bellingham Farmers Market Saturday probably had medical conditions that contributed to the crash, police said Monday.

No pedestrians were hit in the 1:45 p.m. crash, which ended with the truck on its side on Railroad Avenue.

Driver George Michael Nelson, 70, of Sudden Valley and his passenger, Ronald A. Redman, 66, were taken to St. Joseph Hospital. Nelson was in satisfactory condition Monday, while Redman was in serious condition, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Nelson had been parallel parked on Railroad Avenue near Depot Market Square when his Dodge pickup went into reverse and hit a car parked behind it. The truck then sped across the intersection of Railroad and East Chestnut Street without stopping before hitting the parked cars and rolling on its side, police said.

Bellingham Police spokesman Steve Felmley said Nelson told police he was disoriented and blacked out after backing into the first vehicle. Nelson was taking prescription medicine for several medical conditions, Felmley said.

Police said they will recommend that the state Department of Licensing re-evaluate Nelson’s driving ability.

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