Back in early August, Discover Ferndale reported a Ferndale man was found dead at a crash scene and thought to have been the driver and only occupant. But subsequent investigation by law enforcement pointed to something different.
Ruben Mondragon-Gutierrez, age 54, was found dead at the crash site on Birch Bay-Lynden Road east of Enterprise Road in the early morning hours on August 3rd. He was found to have been ejected from the vehicle after it left the road and rolled into a corn field.
According to court documents filed in a Whatcom County Superior Court case against Ruben’s son, Andrian Mondragon, age 30, investigators developed probable cause to charge Andrian with vehicular homicide and hit and run fatality accident.
Details revealed in the probable cause filing in the court include,
- Detectives contacted Andrian the day of the crash and found he had injuries “consistent with a driver’s seat restraint mark.” Andrian told investigators he had been in a motorcycle crash.
- Detectives searched the interior of the 1991 Toyota Camry. Blood found on the passenger side was consistent with Ruben’s injuries and not Andrian’s minor injuries.
- Prior to the crash Andrian had been seen drinking and when he asked to borrow the Toyota from a friend was told he could but only if his father drove. He reportedly left in the Toyota with his father in the passenger seat.
- They drove from the 800 block of Birch Bay-Lynden Road to the Lynden Safeway store. A Lynden Police officer attempted to “stop the vehicle for a suspected infraction” as they left the store parking lot. The Toyota sped off on Birch Bay-Lynden Road at a high rate and without its lights on. The officer “terminated his pursuit because of speed and the lack of visibility of the blacked out Camry.”
- After the crash, between 3am and 4am, Andrian is reported to have contacted family and friends and received a ride to a relative’s residence in Ferndale.
- He posted apologies to friends and family on social media “for his wrongdoings.”
Andrian is currently in custody and scheduled to stand trial October 24th.