Community mourns deaths of 2 teens hit by car as suspect appears in court
FERNDALE, Wash. -- A community is mourning as friends and family remember the two boys hit and killed by an SUV as the driver faces a judge for the first time.
Windward High School students were back in class Thursday after the horrific crash just a day earlier.
Two other teenage boys are still recovering from their injuries.
"I didn't even realize what happened even after I saw it. I was like, I just stood there for a second and took it all in," said witness Zac Holmstrom.
Holmstrom was walking with other students as part of their P.E. class when police say the black SUV jumped the curb plowing into four students.
"I was praying and God answered that prayer that Kole would be okay. He's like one of my best friends," said Holmstrom.
17-year-old Kole Randall's leg was broken in the crash. He and fellow student Michael Brewster, also 17, are still recovering in area hospitals.
Troopers identified the two students who were killed as Gabe Anderson, 15, and Shane Ormiston, 18.
"I saw them all get tossed into the air," Holmstrom said.
Suspect makes first court appearance
The man suspected of crashing into the group of students may have been high on marijuana or hallucinogenic mushrooms, prosecutors revealed in court on Thursday.
William Klein appears in court June 11, 2015. (Q13 FOX photo)
William Klein, 34, admitted to troopers at the scene that he was a daily marijuana user and had experimented with mushrooms in the past, Whatcom County Prosecutor David S. McEachran said, referencing a probable cause affidavit.
Klein appeared drowsy at the scene of the crash, McEachran added.
State Trooper Mark Francis said urine and blood samples were taken from Klein, but it could be a month or more before tests reveal what, if anything, he had in his system and whether it was detected at a level that could cause impairment.
The Bellingham Herald reported that Brodsky later said his client was heartbroken and devastated by the incident. Brodsky said he was confident that lab tests would show Klein was not under the influence of anything.
Klein, a Trader Joe’s employee and longtime Whatcom County resident with no criminal history, was ordered held on $200,000 bail Thursday during his first appearance in court. His wife spoke on his behalf, calling him a “wonderful father.” She said the crash was a “tragic mistake.”
The couple’s 3-year-old son was in Klein’s SUV at the time of the crash, according to state troopers. Neither were injured and the child was turned over to the care of his mother.
Klein could be charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular assault, pending toxicology results.
A growing memorial
Across the street from the high school sits Greene's Corner Store. The owner said he felt compelled to share words of support for a grieving community.
"I have an 11-year-old daughter and I know if that happened to my daughter I would just be devastated," said owner Lance Bailey. "My heart and sympathies just go out to the families."
Friday is the last day of classes, and the district says they will keep extra counselors on hand for anybody who needs to talk about the crash.