FERNDALE, Wash. — First responders were dispatched to the intersection of W Axton Road and Northwest Drive about 5:40am on Thursday, May 14, 2026, due to report of a 2-vehicle crash with injuries.
No patients were transported from the scene according to the PulsePoint EMS dispatch log reporting system.
About 7:20am, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office reported motorists were being diverted off roads leading to the intersection.
Please be advised that there are four points of road closures as related to this incident. The following roads are closed until further notice:
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- Northwest Dr at Laurel Rd
- W Axton Rd at Aldrich Rd
- Northwest Dr at Smith Rd going North
- Burnham Dr at W Axton
– Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (May 14, 2026)
About 11:30am, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) told Whatcom News via email that deputies responded to the crash and witnesses said that 1 of the drivers had left the scene on foot. The other driver was entrapped and unresponsive. Aid arrived and worked to extract the driver, who was eventually pronounced deceased at the scene.
Deputies located the male matching the description of the driver who walked away, later identified as 28-year-old Dale Richard Alderman, Jr. Alderman had fresh blood and cuts on his hands and bruises consistent with being in a collision while wearing a seatbelt.
A witness told deputies they saw the vehicle driven by Alderman traveling north on Northwest Drive approaching W Axton Road at a high rate of speed and that he drove through the 4-way stop intersection and collided with the second vehicle. These witness reports were later confirmed with surveillance footage from local businesses. Alderman denied any knowledge of the collision.
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While on scene, Bellingham Police officers learned that a vehicle had been reported stolen from the 200 block of W Bakerview Road. Security footage from the residence showed Alderman taking the vehicle. The vehicle Alderman was driving at the time was confirmed to be the stolen vehicle.
Based on the investigation, deputies established probable cause to arrest Alderman for driving under the influence, vehicular homicide, possession of a stolen vehicle and 2nd-degree driving while his license was revoked.
Alderman was booked into the Whatcom County Jail about 11am. Bail, if any, will be decided during a preliminary court appearance in Whatcom County Superior Court.
Alderman has a prior felony conviction in Whatcom County Superior Court for 2nd-degree possession of a stolen property in 2017.
The intersection and roads leading to it were reopened about 6:30pm.
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Good, old-fashioned reporting, thank you.