BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Bellingham Police closed all traffic lanes of Meridian Street between McLeod Road and Birchwood Avenue yesterday morning, September 22nd, while investigating a fatal car versus bicycle collision.
First responders were dispatched to the intersection of Meridian Street and Birchwood Avenue about 6:10am. According to unconfirmed emergency services radio transmissions from the scene, first responders immediately began CPR on the bicyclist.
Bellingham Police Department (BPD) Public Information Officer Lieutenant Claudia Murphy told Whatcom News via email that BPD officers arrived to find a car in the middle turn lane and a man on the ground nearby. Bellingham Fire Department medics performed lifesaving measures but were unable to revive him and he died of his injuries at the scene.
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Click for more informationThe deceased man was identified as a 44-year-old Bellingham resident. Murphy said his name was not being released at this time.
BPD crime scene investigators and traffic officers “processed and forensically documented the scene” over the next couple of hours while the road remained closed according to Murphy.
The driver of the car was driving south on Meridian Street when the cyclist appeared out of nowhere in front of the car, crossing the street from one side to the other. The driver was unable avoid the collision with the cyclist and stopped immediately to call 9-1-1. The investigation eliminated any signs of impairment associated with the driver of the car and no citations or infractions were issued. BPD Public Information Officer Lieutenant Claudia Murphy
The driver of the vehicle involved, a Saturn passenger car, remained at the scene and was cooperative with officers according to Murphy.
All lanes of Meridian Street, between McLeod Road and Birchwood Avenue were closed for about 2 hours during the morning commute time until about 8:50am.