Cyclist fatally struck by train in Ferndale, Motorcycle t-bones car in Ferndale, killing one and hospitalizing three, Bellingham PD investigating road rage incident that led to shooting, Bellingham to add 90 electric vehicle charging ports across 26 new stations, Mount Vernon Police identify victims in last week’s house fire; suspect still at large, WA ferry workers demanding 20% raise
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, August 19th. Good afternoon,
I’m ______.
STORY: Cyclist fatally struck by train in Ferndale
A cyclist was fatally struck by a train last Saturday in Ferndale.
According to a news release by the Ferndale Police Department, the cyclist was riding south through a railroad crossing on Hovander Road in Ferndale when they hit a railroad crossing bar, sending them into the path of a train which struck and killed them around 2 pm.
The victim’s identity has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
STORY: Motorcycle t-bones car in Ferndale, killing one and hospitalizing three
First responders were dispatched to the South Bound Lanes of I-5 last Friday when a motorcycle t-boned a vehicle.
According to the initial investigation – the vehicle, a 2005 Pontiac GTO coupe, had reportedly lost control while entering southbound I-5 at the Portal Way Interchange where it struck the left barrier. This is when the motorcycle – a 2006 Yamaha FJR1300 – was unable to stop and struck the vehicle, sending the cyclist about 100 feet from the crash.
The vehicle’s occupants, two 20-year-old men and an 18-year-old woman, survived the crash and were transported to the hospital by ambulance.The motorcyclist – a 47-year-old Blaine man – was transported to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition, where he later succumbed to injuries.
According to recent reporting by Whatcom news, drugs and – or alcohol were determined to be involved as a cause for the Pontiac’s initial crash into the barrier. The driver – 20-year-old Collin Rene Cayo of Bellingham – has been booked into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of vehicular assault.
The charge is likely to be upgraded to vehicular Homicide.
STORY: Bellingham PD investigating road rage incident that led to shooting
A road rage incident over the weekend resulted in a man being shot.
According to the Bellingham Police Department, the incident took place around 9 a.m. yesterday. The victim of the shooting drove himself to the hospital where he is currently undergoing treatment.
A social media post by the BPD stated that the incident involved a green Ford Explorer and a silver Honda sedan, and took place at the intersection of Iowa St. and Moore St. in the eastbound lanes.
Police took a suspect into custody on a first-degree assault charge and a reckless endangerment charge. The Bellingham Investigations Division is still seeking information from anyone who witnessed the assault, and asks to be contacted through their tipline.
STORY: Bellingham to add 90 electric vehicle charging ports across 26 new stations
The city of Bellingham plans to install 26 new electric vehicle charging stations by the end of December.
The city says the installations are a response to an increase in electric vehicles. According to the Washington State Department of Licensing, there are almost 3,2000 electric vehicles registered in Bellingham as of July of this year. That’s more than double the number of electric vehicles registered in the beginning of 2022.
The new charging stations are also part of an effort to meet Bellingham’s climate action goals with a push on expanding electric vehicle infrastructure.
The future locations of all 26 charging stations can be found on the city of Bellingham website; fourteen of which are already open for use.
STORY: Mount Vernon Police identify victims in last week’s house fire; suspect still at large
Mount Vernon Police have identified the three victims of a residential fire in Rockport, and say that gunshots contributed to their deaths.
A news release issued by Skagit Valley Coroner on Saturday indicates that Erin Birman, 52; her son Taylor Dawson, 19; and Dawson’s girlfriend, Jillian Whitney Van Boven, 18 died either before or during the house fire on August 9th. A warrant has been issued for Birman’s husband, Jason M. Birman, 49, who is missing and wanted for three counts of second-degree murder. Law enforcement agencies, including the Mount Vernon Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, are investigating the incident. Authorities are seeking public help in locating Jason Birman.
Two GoFundMe fundraisers have been established to support Van Boven’s parents.
STORY: WA ferry workers demanding 20% raise
Washington State Ferry workers say they are overworked, underpaid, and burning out due to staffing shortages, and they’re tired of it.
The Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association, which represents 400 ferry workers, says it is preparing for contentious contract negotiations, and seeking pay parity with their better-paid deck counterparts. In a recent interview Union Secretary-Treasurer Roland Rexha (REX-uh) highlighted the significant pay gap, with deck workers earning 19%-25% more, and stated that current compensation lags behind private sector opportunities.
The union also reports severe understaffing, with 81,000 hours of overtime worked in 2023, contributing to widespread burnout. Staffing shortages have led to more than 3,500 canceled sailings in 2023, with almost half of the cancellations due to crew shortages.
The union says it is pushing for better wages to address these issues, and cites similar successful negotiations with Staten Island Ferry.
WX: Partly sunny
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
Mostly sunny skies are projected for today, with a chance of rain in the afternoon. Daytime highs are expected to be in the mid-70s, with variable morning winds solidifying as south-southwest later in the day. Nighttime lows are expected to be around 60. Tomorrow is expected to be consistently rainy, with chances of another thunderstorm.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman (COOL-mun), Carlee Schram (CAR-lee SHRAM), Tristan Trudell, Kyler Cantrell, Anna Vickers, and Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Paloma Ortiz, Anna Hedrick, and Miguel Garduno (MEE-gel gar-DOO-ño). Tune in to local news on KMRE weekdays at 3, 4 and 5 p.m. For news tips and feedback, send us an email at news@kmre.org or call 360-398-6150. KMRE is a nonprofit community radio station, powered by listener donations. Check out our Patreon page or go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m ________________, and thank you for listening.
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