Person fatally struck by train near city park Tuesday was Bellingham High School student
A Bellingham High School student was killed by a freight train Tuesday evening, apparently near a trestle in Little Squalicum Park.
A BNSF Railway spokeswoman confirmed that a train killed someone about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, but provided few details, including age and gender of the victim and how the death occurred.
“Unfortunately, there was a person struck and fatally injured,” BNSF’s Lena Kent told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
Kent said the incident was under investigation.
The student was not immediately identified, but Bellingham Schools spokeswoman Dana Smith did confirm that the victim was a student at Bellingham High.
“We have communicated with staff, students and families this morning and have additional counseling support on site at Bellingham High School,” Smith said in an email.
Bellingham Police didn’t respond to emailed questions seeking additional information.
But the Pulse Point emergency services app showed an incident at 640 Marine Drive near Little Squalicum Park.
Emergency radio conversations archived at the Broadcastify app indicated that a teenage girl had been struck by a train, and that police and firefighters were trying to locate her.
Photos on social media showed two Bellingham Fire ambulances parked near the beach, with a train carrying oil tankers stopped on the trestle above.
Kent didn’t provide a precise location but said the incident was not at a crossing.
This is the first reported fatality on the tracks since March when a man was fatally struck south of Boulevard Park, shutting down rail service for several hours. That death was ruled a suicide.
This story will be updated.
This story was originally published May 31, 2023 at 6:33 AM.
