Two people die following rollover crash in Bellingham’s Columbia neighborhood
Two people were killed Thursday night in a rollover crash on the north side of the Columbia neighborhood, police said Friday.
A passing motorist reported the incident shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday in the 1000 block of Squalicum Way, about a quarter-mile west of Northwest Avenue, Bellingham Police spokeswoman Megan Peters told The Bellingham Herald.
“A caller advised that they were driving on Squalicum Way when then they noticed debris in the roadway. The caller stated when he went to check it out, they discovered a vehicle on its roof, and it appeared someone was deceased,” Peters said in an email.
Both Victor Guerra-Rico, 26, of Maple Falls and Moises Ramos-Trejo Jr., 31, of Bellingham were dead at the scene, she said, adding that their relatives have been notified.
Neither man was a wearing a seat belt, and both were thrown from the 2017 BMW M4 sedan when it rolled.
“It appears the vehicle had been traveling westbound on Squalicum Way, left the roadway, then struck a tree,” Peters said.
Excessive speed was cited as a contributing factor in the crash. Police were unable to determine who was driving and the investigation was continuing, she said.
Bellingham Police closed a mile-long section of Squalicum Way between Meridian and West streets, according to the department’s social media.
“Crime techs and officers are on scene. Please avoid the area. The road is estimated to reopen around midnight,” police said on Facebook.
A support officer arrived to comfort the person who found the victims, Peters said.
This story was originally published December 29, 2023 at 8:00 AM.
