Bellingham woman suspected of vehicular homicide after striking and killing a pedestrian
A 24-year-old Bellingham woman is suspected of vehicular homicide after the car that she was driving struck and killed a Bellingham man who was walking in the lanes of traffic in Whatcom County Tuesday night.
The man who died has been identified as Tyler C. Ford, 37, of Bellingham, according to an update to the Washington State Patrol report on the incident.
The latest update also stated that it was unknown if drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash, though earlier reports said it was. The Bellingham Herald has reached out to the State Patrol to confirm.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:18 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, on East Axton Road between Guide Meridian and Hannegan Road, according to the release.
A silver 2018 Subaru Legacy driven by Kaycee Elaine Antila was heading eastbound on Axton at the time, according to the release, which reported that Ford also was walking in the eastbound lanes of Axton at the time. The Subaru struck and killed Ford.
Before the latest update, Trooper Jacob Kennett told The Herald that Antila is believed to have been impaired by drugs and/or alcohol at the time of the fatal crash. Ford also was believed to have had drugs and/or alcohol in his system, according to Kennett, who said the crash remains under investigation.
Whatcom County Jail records show Antila was booked on suspicion of vehicular homicide at 2:44 a.m. Wednesday, May 4.
The man’s death is the seventh on Whatcom County roadways so far in 2022, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Crash Data Portal, after their were 15 in 2021.
Of the seven fatal crashes this year, four have involved pedestrians, according to the portal, after there were three pedestrian-involved fatal crashes in 2021.
Tuesday’s crash is also the second fatal involving drugs or alcohol in Whatcom County this year, the portal shows, matching the number for all of 2021.
This story was originally published May 4, 2022 at 7:49 AM.
