Child killed in Halloween night crash. The driver is facing vehicular homicide charge
A Sedro-Woolley man is being held in lieu of $1 million bail on vehicular homicide and assault charges after a Halloween night crash that killed a child and critically injured another person in rural Whatcom County.
Tyler Patton Higdon, 30, was booked Thursday night into Whatcom County Jail on charges of vehicular homicide, DUI, reckless driving and vehicular assault charges. Bail was set at a Friday afternoon hearing, according to online records.
“This loss of life is heart-rending; no child should die this way,” Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Deb Slater said in a statement Friday morning. “We ache for those who experienced this crash and for their loved ones. We hope for their healing.”
A sheriff’s deputy was at the intersection and saw the crash, Slater said.
Firefighters from several agencies were called to the wreck at Goodwin and South Pass roads east of Everson just before 6 p.m. Thursday, according to the emergency services app Pulse Point.
“A vehicle with four occupants was attempting to turn left onto Goodwin Road from South Pass Road when it was struck by an eastbound vehicle,” Slater said. “The impact ejected an 18-year-old passenger, who was reported in critical condition. An 11-year-old passenger was pronounced deceased at the scene. The other two occupants were also injured and transported to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center.”
“The driver of the eastbound vehicle was (Higdon). Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the collision. Witnesses reported the eastbound vehicle was traveling above the posted speed limit,” Slater said.
Higdon was taken to the hospital for treatment and released to deputies, Slater said.
Slater told The Bellingham Herald that Higdon was driving a BMW and the other car was a Ford Fusion.
Pulse Point showed that more than a dozen fire engines, ambulances and supervising fire officers were dispatched to the crash.
Three ambulances were shown taking patients to St. Joseph Medical Center, according to the app. Posts on social media said one ambulance was escorted by a sheriff’s deputy.
Slater’s statement didn’t offer information about the condition of the other passengers, or provide the gender and home town of the victims.
This story was originally published November 1, 2024 at 11:18 AM.
