Ferndale Car Accident Kills Two, Injures Two

Ferndale, WA:  The Washington State Patrol responded to a SUV vs multiple pedestrians,  fatality collision on Graveline Road/West Smith Road,  north of Bellingham.

According to The Washington State Patrol Public Information Officer, Trooper Mark Francis, 34 year old William Klein is under arrest for two counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular assault after he ran over four students from Windward High School who were walking with their class on a sidewalk during P.E. Class.   Trooper Francis says the driver of the SUV has admitted to prior  drug use and said he had just got off work and might have fallen asleep. The Troopers will confirm or exclude the use of drugs or alcohol via a blood test.

The two students that died at the scene have been identified by Trooper Francis as Gabriel Anderson, 15 and Shane Ormiston, 18. 

Two additional students were taken to St. Josephs hospital where they were initially listed in Critical Condition but have since been upgraded to serious condition. They are identified as Michael Brewster, 17 of Custer and Randle Kole, 17 of Ferndale. They are listed as both having broken legs and other injuries.

A witness at the scene said the driver of the SUV got out of the vehicle on the sidewalk after the accident happened.  The students had been walking on the sidewalk and other students witnessed the crash.

The Washington State Patrol Provided a photo of the SUV involved in the accident and you can clearly see that the SUV is parked on the Sidewalk. Accident Investigators have marked the area that the vehicle stopped with green paint.

The Ferndale School District reported on its website that all district resources were being dispatched to Windward High School and they would be keeping all students after school and would bus them home later on a separate bus run.

Ferndale Mayor Gary Jensen issued a statement saying “There are simply no words to soothe the pain of this loss. Ferndale is hurting and we mourn together, as a community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families in this time of tragedy.”

There is a Community gathering tonight at 6:30 PM. It will be held at Good News Fellowship at 1252 N Axton Rd  in Ferndale.

This is a developing story and it will be updated as additional information becomes available.