Charges possible in wrong-way crash north of Bellingham that injured 7, including a child

A Blaine man is facing charges in connection with a wrong-way crash Wednesday that injured seven people and involved four vehicles, including a 10-year-old girl in his car, which burst into flames.

Charges are pending against Aaron W. Dexter, 45, in the chain-reaction crash that happened about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on Guide Meridian near Kelly Road, according to a Washington State Patrol report.

Vehicular assault charges could be filed, Trooper Kelsey Harding told The Bellingham Herald in an email.

“As the detectives and troopers continue to investigate the collision it is possible more charges could be considered,” Harding said.

All seven patients were taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, said St. Joseph spokeswoman Bev Mayhew.

Three patients were treated and released Wednesday from St. Joseph Medical Center.

Timmy Hart, 65, of Bellingham, remained hospitalized in satisfactory condition Thursday, she said.

Three patients were transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Mayhew said.

Dexter was in critical condition Thursday.

Another patient, 20-year-old Jadesen Knudtson of Bellingham, was also in critical condition on Thursday at Harborview, a hospital spokeswoman told The Herald in an email.

Dexter’s 10-year-old passenger was not at Harborview, spokeswoman Barbara Clements said.

Traffic on The Guide was blocked for several hours north of Bellingham, police said. It appears that everyone was wearing seat belts, according to the State Patrol report.

Troopers said Dexter was driving north on Guide Meridian in the southbound lanes when his 2001 Mercedes CL sideswiped a 2019 GMC Sierra pickup that Hart was driving.

Then he hit a 2013 Kia Optima driven by a Lynden woman head-on, and finally crashed into a 2007 Nissan Maxima driven by a Spanaway woman.

Both the Nissan and the GMC pickup landed in a ditch, and the Mercedes caught fire, according to the report.

All four vehicles were a total loss, according to the report. They were towed and held as evidence by the State Patrol.

Driver of the Kia was identified as Angela Ramirez, 22, of Lynden. She had a 3-year-old girl with her in the car. Ramirez was treated and released, but information about her passenger was unavailable because she is a child.

Savannah Phillips, 19, of Spanaway, was identified as the Nissan driver. She was treated and released from St. Joseph Medical Center. Knudtson, her passenger, was transferred to Harborview.

This is a developing story and will be updated.