A 56-year-old Blaine man was arrested on suspicion of vehicular assault and driving while under the influence following a collision with a bicyclist Thursday morning, Sept. 3, that closed part of Birch Bay-Lynden Road.
He was transported to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham before being booked into Whatcom County Jail, and was released the next day because the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office did not file charges against him.
“I declined to file charges until we receive the blood toxicology reports from the lab,” Deputy II Prosecuting Attorney Samantha MacIntosh wrote in an email to The Northern Light. “At that time, I will reevaluate and either decline to file or will proceed with the case.”
The accident occurred just before 5 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, near the 3900 block of Birch Bay-Lynden Road. The road was closed between Kickerville and Hamm roads for a little over four hours that day, according to Deb Slater, public information officer for the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
The man “showed signs of impairment,” and was arrested by WCSO, Slater wrote in an email to The Northern Light.
The bicyclist was also taken to the hospital after the incident. No information about their condition was available.
Editor’s note: This story was changed to remove the name of the driver because he was released from jail with no charges filed against him.
