Authorities arrest man suspected of fleeing Whatcom County crash scene on bike
Whatcom County law enforcement arrested a man suspected of leaving the scene after causing a traffic collision that severely injured the driver of the other vehicle.
A witness reported seeing Bailey Rae McCorkhill, 29, around 6:20 p.m. Sept 13, driving a red Saturn SUV over 60 mph through a stop sign at the intersection of Pangborn Road and Northwest Road, according to court documents.
The vehicle collided with a dark colored Mazda, causing significant injury to the driver. Deputies who responded to the scene reported finding an unconscious woman in the Mazda with head and arm injuries, according to court documents.
The woman was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, where medical staff discovered she had spinal cord damage, brain bleed and significant pelvis fractures. She was flown via helicopter to a regional medical facility, according to court documents.
McCorkhill reportedly retrieved a bike from inside the SUV and left the scene heading east on Pangborn Road. Soon after, a 911 call came in from the 1600 block of Pangborn Road from someone claiming there was an injured and suspicious person on their property, according to Deb Slater with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
When a deputy arrived, McCorkhill again attempted to ride away on the bicycle despite the deputy telling him he was under arrest and needed to stop. The bike malfunctioned, and McCorkhill attempted to run away for a short time before giving up and surrendering to law enforcement, according to court documents.
Court documents allege McCorkhill showed signs of intoxication and injuries consistent with a car crash. He was treated at the scene by medical aid and was later taken to St. Joseph Medical Center. He was booked into Whatcom County Jail on Sept. 15.
While being tended to by medics at the scene of the collision, McCorkhill reportedly told deputies he was in the vehicle at the time of the crash but only as a passenger. He said his girlfriend had been driving, according to court documents.
McCorkhill’s girlfriend showed no signs of injury once she was located near the scene of the crash by deputies, according to court documents. She told investigators she was not in the vehicle at the time of the crash, and she had walked to the scene of the incident from her house which is nearby. She also said she was waiting for McCorkhill to pick her up when the crash occurred.
McCorkhill has been charged with vehicular assault in a reckless manner causing substantial bodily harm and vehicular assault under the influence with substantial bodily harm — both class B felonies. He was also charged with hit and run causing injury, a class C felony. Because he told law enforcement he was not driving, he has also been charged with making a false statement to a public servant, a gross misdemeanor.
McCorkhill remained in custody at Whatcom County Jail as of Monday, Sept. 22.
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