Bicyclist killed, driver arrested in Whatcom Co. hit-and-run crash
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MAPLE FALLS, Wash. - A driver suspected of being under the influence of prescription drugs hit two bicyclists, killing one of them, then drove off after initially stopping at the crash scene, the Washington State Patrol reported.
The driver, identified as Debra G. Peterson, 57, of Maple Falls was later arrested and booked into the Whatcom County Jail for investigation of felony hit and run.
State troopers responded to the scene, near Highway 547 and Cimarron Way, at about 8:15 p.m. Saturday after receiving a report of a serious crash.
One of the bicyclists, later identified as Steven E. Waterman, 36, of Maple Falls was pronounced dead at the scene. The second bicyclist, a 51-year-old Maple Falls man, was injured. He was taken to a Bellingham hospital for treatment. Neither of the bicyclists was wearing a helmet.
The crash happened in front Kerie Boggess' house. Her husband - an active-duty soldier on leave from the Army - ran to help.
"He's seen carnage before … and he's never seen anything that bad before," Kerie says.
Army veteran Jesse Marshall saw the accident happen as he was driving along Highway 547. He stopped and even used the shirt off his back to help render aid.
"I was able to rely on the training that they drill into your head over and over again - it comes in handy you know," he said.
A preliminary investigation found that Peterson was driving north on Highway 547, also known as Kendall Road, in a 1994 Ford Escort when she collided with the two bicyclists as they were in the roadway, according to the State Patrol. The two-lane road in that area has narrow shoulders and no designated bike lanes, the Bellingham Herald reported.
After stopping to check on the bicyclists, Peterson then drove off, state troopers said. She was later located and arrested. She was not injured.
Both Boggess and Marshall say it was their first instinct to help the two men in need - but now they hope justice is served.
"I hope the lady that took off and left those people for dead in the middle of the road gets brough to justice," says Marshall.
Investigators say Peterson admitted she was using prescription medication. Investigators are looking into whether she was impaired by that medication.
The driver, identified as Debra G. Peterson, 57, of Maple Falls was later arrested and booked into the Whatcom County Jail for investigation of felony hit and run.
State troopers responded to the scene, near Highway 547 and Cimarron Way, at about 8:15 p.m. Saturday after receiving a report of a serious crash.
One of the bicyclists, later identified as Steven E. Waterman, 36, of Maple Falls was pronounced dead at the scene. The second bicyclist, a 51-year-old Maple Falls man, was injured. He was taken to a Bellingham hospital for treatment. Neither of the bicyclists was wearing a helmet.
The crash happened in front Kerie Boggess' house. Her husband - an active-duty soldier on leave from the Army - ran to help.
"He's seen carnage before … and he's never seen anything that bad before," Kerie says.
Army veteran Jesse Marshall saw the accident happen as he was driving along Highway 547. He stopped and even used the shirt off his back to help render aid.
"I was able to rely on the training that they drill into your head over and over again - it comes in handy you know," he said.
A preliminary investigation found that Peterson was driving north on Highway 547, also known as Kendall Road, in a 1994 Ford Escort when she collided with the two bicyclists as they were in the roadway, according to the State Patrol. The two-lane road in that area has narrow shoulders and no designated bike lanes, the Bellingham Herald reported.
After stopping to check on the bicyclists, Peterson then drove off, state troopers said. She was later located and arrested. She was not injured.
Both Boggess and Marshall say it was their first instinct to help the two men in need - but now they hope justice is served.
"I hope the lady that took off and left those people for dead in the middle of the road gets brough to justice," says Marshall.
Investigators say Peterson admitted she was using prescription medication. Investigators are looking into whether she was impaired by that medication.
I have lived in Kendall for many years, every once in awhile we get teased with the news that this area might develop enough to serve the thousands of people who live in it: bike lanes, sidewalks, public playground, normal grocery store, banking facility, drug store...etc...etc... I have seen way to many people, cyclists, dogs, kids in the road, near the road as I drive by, and I cringe. The public transportation out here is a joke, many people have no choice but to ride bikes on this road. I live right by the "S" curve off the Kendall road, north of where it goes over the creek, I've been rear ended twice because I have to slow Down to turn left onto my street. People want to drive Kendall road like it's the interstate. I don't know how many people will need to die or be seriously injured before the county finally takes notice to these issues. Many thoughts and prayers to the families of these victims. I'm so sorry. I heard the sirens and commotion loud and clear Saturday night and I prayed for you then.
Such a tragedy and glad the woman was caught. How stupid, stop, check and take off.......now the charges will be worse. RIP sir and prayers to the family and friends.
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I am also sad that they got hit but god dammit stay off the road. A vehicle will always win.Bicyclist and pedestrians don't look out for vehicles anymore.Â
***CORRECTION-NOT equipped to accomodate bicyclists*****
Also, there is no mention of alcohol in this article.
I am very sorry this tragedy took place. My condolences to the family of Mr.Waterman. I want to be very clear. I am in no way saying he deserved to die. However, I drive this road almost every day. It is very dark. There is no bike lane. I would never, under any circumstances ride a bicycle on this road, especially at night wearing dark clothes and no reflective wear and no helmet. I can attest to the fact that this is a common occurrance. I have commented numerous times to my husband that I am very surprised that somebody hasn't been injured or killed on Kendall Road. This is a road equipped to accomodate bicyclists. Additionally, due NOT convict this woman for hit and run before you know the facts. There is very sketchy cell phone coverage up here. I can get NO coverage where this accident happened. Â
My condolences to the family of the man who was killed.
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We need to ban cars; they keep killing innocent people!
 @puzzledwhynouproar Don't be stupid
Just happened to be a drunk driver. Trying to ride on a rainy, dark and narrow road is virtual russian roulette. I'm sorry about the bike rider, never should have happened. Lack of common sense on both sides. Before the bike huggers get all wound up, stop and ask yourself...would you really hop on a bike at night, on a rural winding road with barely a shoulder on it. If you say yes you're lying. Yes bicycles have the right of way but if anything comes from this it's don't drive while compromised and use common sense.
 @NWlife How do you figure bicycles have the right of way ? Bicyclists are to follow the rules of the road .No lights,no helmet,dark clothes,windy dark road,  tragedy is bound to happen
 @NWlife Both bikers were wearing dark clothing, no lights, riding in the middle of the road and not wearing helmets. Sorry for the terrible situation, but....?
 @NWlife Bellingham initially reported that neither riders had lights. Now there are differing accounts.
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I'm waiting for komo to feel sorry for the hit and run driver and make this a police brutality story. (Like they did in the last 2 hit and run cases)
Of course if she would have been high on marijuana when she hit them and ran off, people would have had much more sympathy for her.
@dylandawgie I don't have sympathy for ANYONE who commits a hit-and-run. Anyone who does is a fool.
How do you live with yourself when you take persons life while driving drunk? POS
@Half-Baked It goes a little like this: "I'm sorry (sorry I finally got caught) - I made a mistake (actually, it was a conscious AND deliberate decision to operatre a motor vehicle while drunk)". The DUI Attorney says, "Your honor, my client is extremely remorseful this happened, recoginizes the err or their ways (again - the conscious, deliberate decision...), but he/she has NEVER been in trouble with the law before (small consolation to the family of the victim)".
That's pretty much it in a nutshell...
 @Throbbinhood Gotta love the DUI/Criminal defense attorney who always represents the POS.
 @skepticaloptimist  @Throbbinhood So, if you were the defendant you would go to court without an attorney?
I would NEVER ride my bike at night just because we have so many drivers that don't drive like they should. I see so many texting, talking on the phone or driving like they are on something so why would I wan't to face a 2500 pound plus car with my bike.Â
@swan this is true but not in Kendall, we have zero cell phone reception so there isn't much chatting/texting while driving in our neck of the woods
 @swan I agree as a commuter cyclist I have never so far rode during dark hours even though my bicycle is well equipped (have 2 very powerful head lights,tail lights,turn signal indicators and retro reflective tape  all around my bicycle frame) for that if an emergency night trip is someday needed in which I'll take extra slow and careful  riding precautions.I always wear a helmet with retro reflective tape on it and bright florescent clothing with again retro-reflective markings.
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 @m9078jk3  @swan I ride at night but here in san diego would never do so there.
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too much rode rage and bad drivers and not enough stripping for bicyclists.
 @m9078jk3  @swan I ride at night quite often but I live in the U-district where it's really well lit and I have plenty of lights and reflectors. I definitely wouldn't feel too safe riding at night in a rural area. Regardless, I don't think it really matters because if you have some idiot driving while high and drunk, everyone around them including other drivers and pedestrians are in danger.
The helmet/reflective material debate aside - when are we going to make these drunks poster children by publishing their pictures when they continually elect to drink & yet, and worse yet - injure or kill someone in the process?
Maybe that will help get someone's attention...
@Throbbinhood I think that's a superb idea.
Drugs or alcohol, no helmets,impeding traffic. Did the bicyclists have any lights ? Reflective material. or just riding around in the dark expecting people to see them ?Â
 @Maynard G Krebbs According to people who knew the deceased, his bike was "lite up like a Christmas tree" as posted in several comments in the Bellingham Herald.  However, I live in the area and would not ride that road in the dark.Â
 @Maynard G Krebbs The drugs/alcohol were the driver, not the bicyclists. Sure, they weren't equipped, but if the driver wasn't impaired she would have been paying attention and saw them anyway.
 @IronWafflez I won't guess ,but riding a bike on a dark rural road isn't smart. Just the dark windy road it is hard enough to see people . Drunk or sober.Â
Drugs & alcohol, no helmets. Totally preventable on both sides!
 @Zoso You have NO idea. Drugs & Alcohol, yes preventable. Helmets? May not have made ANY difference in this case.
You simply do not know.
 @DrugFighter  @Zoso Actually the medical examiner would know.
I haven't seen any comment that outright blames the victims so get a grip. Most simply pointed out that it was reported the cyclists weren't fully equiped to ride safely on 547. Now it may not have made a lot of difference since this motorized twit was DUI but if you are going to ride bikes or walk on this kind of road you need to take every precaution to make sure you can be seen. Regardless of how the laws are now or how invincible they delude themselves into thinking they are, cyclists and pedestrians will always lose if the get in the way of a motorized vehicle.
 @Zoso  Hate it when Komo does that.
 @sunnysandiego @Tattooed_Angel @DrugFighter Oh, NOW they say it's perscription drugs, as opposed to "drugs and alcohol were a facotr in the crash" as it said in the original draft.
 @Tattooed_Angel  @sunnysandiego fair enough
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actually they may be able to render life saving assistance which is why the law states you are not allowed to leave the scene
@sunnysandiego Agreed. I have zero sympathy for ANYONE who commits a hit-and-run. It is inconceivable that anyone would even consider leaving someone to die after hitting them with their vehicle, whether they are under the influence or not.
 @Tattooed_Angel  @sunnysandiego I had not refreshed the story.
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it was initially reported as I quoted.
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but prescription drugs are the new alcohol.
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people feel ok since a dr prescribes them (most of the time)
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either way driving away AFTER running over a bicyclist is no cool in my book nor will it ever be ok
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Sorry I am just that way
 @cm257n7  @Zoso Indeed, but Zoso was not there and is most likely not an ME.
@sunnysandiego And I am not protecting anyone. Just making sure you get the facts straight.
@sunnysandiego You must not be reading the same article as I am because this article clearly states in the opening sentence, "A driver suspected of being under the influence of prescription drugs..." NOWHERE in the article does it state anything about alcohol.
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Final sentence, "Investigators say Peterson admitted she was using prescription medication. Investigators are looking into whether she was impaired by that medication."
 @Tattooed_Angel  @sunnysandiegoÂ
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From the story above
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"A driver suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol hit two bicyclists"
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No wonder you have so many drunk drivers hit and run after killing people.... you are so quick to protect them. Â well you shall reap what you sow.
@sunnysandiego First off, the driver wasn't drunk. She was under the influence of prescription pills. Secondly, while there is no state law requiring bicyclists to wear helmets (some cities do have required helmet laws though) it is a proven fact that wearing a helmet could save your life. It is not blaming the victim but a simple fact.
 @cm257n7  @DrugFighter  @ZosoÂ
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It's called blaming the victim
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common yet unbelievable. Â The victim is dead not because of a helmet or lack of but because someone chose to drive drunk.
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Don't protect drivers who choose to drive under the influence. Â Trust me your system does too much of that already. Â
Who, in their right mind can hit someone with their vehicle and just take off like that? It's mind blowing what people are capable of doing. Or, in this driver's case, not doing.
 @skepticaloptimist The original article says she went home to call 911 because she wasn't getting reception on her cell phone, and then she went back to the scene.  At least that what she is saying...
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2013/01/27/2855047/driver-facing-charges-in-death.html
@IronWafflez If she did run home to call 911 she is a freaking idiot because it happened right in front of a residence (as stated in the article) and there were people who came to assistance who could have called 911 for her.
 @Tattooed_Angel  @IronWafflez What she did was horrid, and maybe she was too impaired to think clearly enough to call from a residence, but she did eventually come back which is more than some of the other hit & runs have done lately...course she probably realized that she would be caught either way. Who knows...
 @skepticaloptimist I give her credit for returning to the scene at least, although it's not for me to decide...