Ferndale man charged in I-5 fatal hit and run reportedly bragged to coworkers
A Ferndale man was charged in a fatal hit and run after reportedly colliding with a Bellingham woman who jumped from an overpass onto Interstate 5 last summer, leaving the scene and then bragging to a coworker about the incident over Thanksgiving.
Ian Thomas Price, 30, was arraigned on felony hit and run charges Friday, Dec. 20, in Whatcom County Superior Court. His trial is scheduled for March 2, and jail records show Price has not been booked into Whatcom County Jail.
Leandra Huante-Garcia, 35, of Bellingham died after jumping from an overpass onto the freeway at approximately 12:30 a.m. June 15 near milepost 246, according to a press release from the Washington State Patrol.
At the time, the State Patrol reported that Huante-Garcia was hit by a white Subaru Forester and a red Volkswagen GTI that were heading northbound. Nobody in either of those cars was physically injured in the incident, which forced the closure of the interstate for approximately three hours.
The State Patrol received a tip on Dec. 6 that a truck driven by Price also may have struck Huante-Garcia, according to court documents filed Monday, Dec. 16. The tip also said that Price had dashboard camera footage of his truck striking a person and that Price had bragged to a coworker about it over Thanksgiving.
Troopers contacted Price, who made a signed statement that he was driving through Bellingham on June 15 and that he thought he hit some trash in the road, court documents state. Price also reported reading about the suicide in The Bellingham Herald and thinking he may have struck Huante-Garcia.
Price gave no reason why he didn’t report the incident to law enforcement for approximately five months, court documents said, but he voluntarily gave troopers the dashcam footage showing the correct time and location.
The footage showed Price’s truck striking a small female wearing a green shirt, dark pants and white shoes, court documents state. The video also reportedly showed Price’s truck was the first to strike Huante-Garcia and that he failed to pull over after the collision.
Troopers spoke to two of Price’s coworkers, who reported that Price told them about the incident, seemed to have no sympathy and even bragged about it, documents state.
Price’s criminal defense attorney, Angela Anderson, declined to comment after Friday’s arraignment.
If you need help
The National Alliance for Mental Illness Whatcom website suggested these resources if you or someone you know needs help:
▪ Whatcom County Behavioral Health Triage Center: 800-584-3578.
▪ Compass Health Crisis Prevention/Intervention Team: 360-752-4545.
▪ National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255 (Español 888-628-9454; TTY 800-799-4889).
▪ Washington Recovery Help Line 866-789-1511 (TTY 206-461-3219).
▪ Washington Warm Line: 877-500-9276 (Peer support for people living with mental illness Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 5-9 p.m.).
▪ Your Life Your Voice Teen and Young Adult Hotline: 800-448-3000 (24-hour confidential teen/young adult hotline).
▪ Teen Link: 866-833-6546 (A confidential helpline for teens – 6-10 p.m.).
