Whatcom County has installed a four-way stop at an intersection where an 11-year-old child died in a car crash in October.
Public works installed stop signs on South Pass Road at the intersection of Goodwin Road on Dec. 12, Communications Specialist Mandy Feutz said in an email, after the county council passed an ordinance on the matter in early December.
The county will host a public hearing to receive community input on the change on Jan. 14 at the Whatcom County Council meeting.
County Engineer Douglas Ranney wrote in a memo that a multi-way stop at the intersection could reduce collisions, based on collision data collected from Sept. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024.
Council member Ben Elenbaas said at a Dec. 3 council meeting that the community has been “begging for a change” at this intersection over the last several years.
On Oct. 31, a silver Ford Fusion attempted to turn left from South Pass Road onto Goodwin Road when it was struck by an eastbound white BMW. Eleven-year-old Yaretzi Davila-Estrada died at the scene. Her 18-year-old sibling was transported to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in critical condition, while the other two passengers were also injured.
Tyler Higdon, 30, was administered a Breathalyzer test at the scene and his blood alcohol content was 0.11%, according to court documents. He pleaded not guilty to one count of vehicular homicide and three counts of vehicular assault on Friday, Nov. 8.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
