Bellingham police probe fatal train-pedestrian crash

BELLINGHAM — A BNSF train hit and killed a pedestrian just south of Boulevard Park about 12:40 p.m. Wednesday, shutting down rail service through Bellingham and closing several rail crossings south to Fairhaven.

Bellingham police confirmed that one person was hit by a train and killed. Age and gender of the victim weren’t disclosed.

Railroad tracks through Bellingham were blocked by the train, which was stopped with its locomotive blocking the vehicle entrance to Boulevard Park on Bayview Drive and extended south past the crossing on Harris Avenue in Fairhaven, near the Bellingham Cruise Terminal and the Amtrak station.

A BNSF official told The Bellingham Herald in an email that the rail line opened at 3 p.m. and that the incident is under investigation.

“It was reported that a northbound BNSF train struck a person in Bellingham, not at a designated public crossing resulting, in fatal injuries. No injuries to the crew (were) reported,” said Lena Kent, general director of public affairs.

There were 26 train-related fatalities in Washington in 2022, according to the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission.