Bellingham man struck, killed on Portal Way

A 49-year-old Bellingham man was struck and killed by a truck at the Portal Way and Loomis Trail Road intersection early September 15.

Dennis Genrich, 49, of Bellingham, died at the scene after he was hit walking in the road, wearing dark clothing in an area without street lights, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) spokesperson Deb Slater wrote in an email to The Northern Light.

WCSO, Blaine Police Department and fire personnel responded to a person who was hit by a truck around 5:30 a.m., Slater wrote. The driver was traveling southbound on Portal Way while on his way to work when he hit Genrich. The driver faces no criminal charges, and WCSO deputies do not believe he was impaired.

Washington State Patrol troopers arrived to document the accident, and Bellingham Police Department assisted with identifying Genrich through fingerprint scanning.

Sections of Portal Way and Loomis Trail Road were closed until 9 a.m. September 15