Bellingham man accused of vehicular assault for hit-and-run involving pedestrian
A 23-year-old Bellingham man has been arrested on suspicion of multiple charges, including vehicular assault, after a pedestrian was struck while crossing a street.
Bellingham Police Lt. Claudia Murphy said officers were called to the intersection of East Holly Street and Railroad Avenue at 8:38 p.m. Friday. There was an injured pedestrian on the scene who was hit by a Mercury while crossing East Holly Street. The pedestrian was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police learned that the pedestrian was crossing in a crosswalk with the activated pedestrian cross signal when a car failed to give them the right of way, hitting them. The car came to a stop, Murphy said, and the pedestrian slid off the hood. The driver fled the scene and was encountered by police about 20 minutes later.
The man admitted to driving in the area but said he had a green light. Murphy said he was exhibiting signs of impairment, such as a lack of balance, slurred speech and a “strong odor of intoxicants.”
The man was taken into custody for a hit-and-run with injury and vehicular assault. He was also processed for a DUI through a search warrant for a blood draw. He is being held in Whatcom County Jail on $25,000 bond.