Motorcyclist charged with vehicular homicide on Blaine Road hit-and-run earlier this year

A Ferndale man has been arrested on charges of vehicular homicide in connection to a hit-and-run crash on Blaine Road in March that killed a 33-year-old Blaine woman.

Washington State Patrol (WSP) booked Colby Jon Gunderson, 22, into Whatcom County Jail on October 6. Gunderson was being held in lieu of $250,000 bail as of October 10, according to jail booking data. 

Around 5:30 p.m. on March 7, Ashleigh N. Woodward, 33, was driving a 2007 Mazda with her daughter, 13, in the passenger seat. The Mazda was headed south on Blaine Road, near the intersection of Drayton Harbor Road, when Gunderson’s motorcycle attempted to pass the Mazda. Witnesses told WSP investigators that the motorcycle was driving erratically, according to the affidavit of probable cause (APC) filed in Whatcom County Superior Court.

The motorcycle attempted to pass the Mazda on the two-lane road and then moved into the Mazda’s lane as oncoming traffic approached the motorcycle, according to witness statements cited in the APC. The Mazda initially moved to the right to make room but then overcorrected, swerving to the left and striking two concrete barriers, according to the APC. Woodward, who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle.

A witness told WSP investigators that the motorcycle had slowed down and Woodward crossed in front of it as she overcorrected and crashed into the barriers. The motorcycle then drove away.

Woodward and her daughter were transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Woodward died from her injuries on April 13 and her daughter was released after suffering an intracranial bleed. 

WSP detectives forensically mapped the scene and found that it collaborated the witness statements.

A surveillance video from Ben’s Market, just north of the crash, captured still images of the motorcycle driver and a Blaine Police Department officer was able to connect the motorcycle to Gunderson. 

WSP detectives interviewed Gunderson at his Ferndale home on March 21, where he showed them his Suzuki SV650 motorcycle and was described as “extremely nervous,” according to the APC. The motorcycle had no license plate and was recently painted. 

Shortly after meeting with investigators, Gunderson allegedly tried to take down photos of the motorcycle from his social media accounts. WSP obtained a search warrant for Gunderson’s phone records, which showed him in the area of the collision, according to the APC. 

Gunderson spoke with detectives again in early June and told them he attempted to pass Woodward’s vehicle. He said he never made contact with the Mazda so he didn’t believe he was involved in the crash, according to the APC. He allegedly also told investigators that he threw his helmet away shortly after the crash. 

It was not known by press time who was representing Gunderson.