Man charged with vehicular homicide for weekend hit-and-run has prior convictions
An Everett man has been charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor for his role in the death of a Squalicum High School graduate in Sedro-Woolley on the Fourth of July.
Kirk Allen Brenon, 58, was arrested July 4 for allegedly striking 19-year-old Anahi Rose Mendoza with his car while she was selling fireworks near Highway 20 and Township Street.
Court records obtained by The Bellingham Herald show that witnesses reported a white sedan with a ripped-off bumper struck Mendoza and then drove off at about 2 p.m. Soon afterward, police learned that a car fitting that description was parked at a nearby church, as well as possibly the suspect.
The suspect, identified as Brenon, was gone when police arrived, but was later spotted walking in the general area of the crash, court documents state. Brenon admitted to police that he had smoked marijuana about five hours earlier and did not usually consume the drug. Officers reported the odor of marijuana on Brenon and his vehicle, and some was found inside the car.
Brenon agreed to a preliminary breath test and was not found to be under the influence of alcohol.
When asked about what occurred, Brenon told officers that he was heading westbound in the middle lane of Moore Street and saw a car on his driver’s side that he believed was going to collide with him. He said he swerved to the right, went over a sidewalk, hit a pole and then returned to the westbound lane of Moore Street before pulling over.
Video from the Dairy Queen near the intersection of the crash revealed there were no other vehicles near Brenon’s car when he entered the intersection at “a high rate of speed,” according to court documents. The car could be seen going onto the sidewalk, hitting the pedestrian crosswalk signal and Mendoza, and then driving off.
Witnesses and first responders attempted to render aid, but Mendoza was pronounced dead at the scene.
Records show that Saturday’s incident was not the first time Brenon has come in contact with the law for vehicle-related offenses. In addition to convictions for robbery, forgery and assault, Brenon has been convicted of multiple crimes related to reckless driving, taking a vehicle without permission and attempting to elude police.
In a social media post over the weekend, the Sedro-Woolley Police Department said Brenon has a criminal history in multiple states and 17 felony convictions in Washington.
In June 2015, Brenon pleaded guilty to vehicular assault and two counts of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle.
According to court documents, police attempted to pull Brenon over while he was driving without headlights in Burien in April 2013. Brenon sped off in response, running stop signs and speeding. At one point, he drove into oncoming traffic, causing the officer to take “drastic evasive action” to avoid a collision.
Brenon lost control of the car, court records allege, and crashed head-on into another vehicle. The impact caused a fractured rib and head injury for Brenon’s passenger, and Brenon had to be pulled from the driver’s seat as the car became engulfed in flames. The driver of the other car suffered a head injury and fracture.
Brenon was sentenced to 15 years in prison but was released early into community custody in October 2023, according to the Washington State Department of Corrections. His probation ended in June 2025.
Brenon was arrested and charged Saturday with vehicular homicide while under the influence and hit-and-run accident causing death. He was also charged with driving while his license was suspended, a misdemeanor.
Brenon remains in custody at the Skagit County Jail in lieu of a $750,000 bond. His arraignment is scheduled for July 16.