Burlington man identified as person killed by freight train Sunday night in Bellingham
The person who was struck by a freight train Sunday evening in Bellingham has been identified as Ivan Pokrova, 24, of Burlington, Washington, according to the Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office.
According to Deborah Hollis, chief investigator and operations manager with the medical examiner’s office, the cause and manner of his death are still under investigation.
The incident occurred on the railroad tracks below the 1100 block of Chuckanut Drive. The victim was dead upon the arrival of fire crews at about 5:30 p.m., the Bellingham Herald previously reported.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s office is actively investigating the incident. There is not additional information on whether Pokrova’s death appeared to be accidental or not.
Amtrak tweeted Sunday evening about a train on the Cascades route being delayed in Bellingham “due to a freight train trespasser incident ahead.”
BNSF Railway confirmed that the incident did not occur at a railroad crossing and there were no reported injuries to crew members. Trains began moving through the area again just after 10:00 pm, according to BNSF.
Pokrova is the second person hit and killed on these tracks in less than two months.
Bellingham Police said 15-year-old Lucy Guerra and a friend were walking on a railroad trestle above Squalicum Beach when Guerra was fatally hit by a BNSF freight train on Tuesday, May 30.
“The initial investigation is looking like it was a tragic accident. We don’t suspect foul play and we don’t believe it was intentional,” Investigations Lt. Chad Cristelli said.
This story was originally published July 20, 2023 at 10:32 AM.
