A 28-year-old Bellingham man was arrested and booked into Whatcom County Jail Monday as a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run on Samish Way.
Sam C. Kuljis was booked into the jail at 10:58 a.m. and released without bail at 5:44 p.m.
Lt. Chad Cristelli with Bellingham Police Department said investigators learned Kuljis would be at an appointment and were able to use that information to contact him. He was arrested without incident.
Evidence from Kuljis’ vehicle links him to the death of Hartwell Mitchell, according to a police statement from April 1 asking Kuljis to turn himself in. Mitchell was struck by a car in February while crossing Samish Way on a lawnmower.
Kuljis was booked less than three days after police named him as a suspect.
After being treated for his injuries at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, Mitchell was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he died from his injuries March 7, according to police. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office said Mitchell, 80, died of “complications of multiple blunt force injuries.”
Mitchell, who lived on the east side of Samish Way, south of the Elks Lodge, was crossing to the west side around 12:30 p.m. Feb. 11 to reach the mailboxes.
Witnesses saw a white or silver sedan traveling north “at a high rate of speed” on Samish Way strike Mitchell as he was making his way back to the east side of the street, police said. The driver didn’t slow down after colliding with Mitchell. Debris from the car and lawnmower was strewn as far as the next driveway.
Kuljis became a suspect after his car was recovered from a repair shop with “damage consistent with the investigated collision,” police said.
Neighbors on the 900 block of Samish Way said northbound drivers routinely exceed the posted 35 mph speed limit on the long, downhill straightaway in the area.
Later on the day of the hit-and-run crash, Bellingham police posted to social media, asking for information that could identify a suspect. Afterward, the police department remained silent about its investigation until naming Kuljis on April 1.
A charge of vehicular homicide could be brought against the suspect if prosecutors determine the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or driving recklessly or with no regard for others’ safety.
Mitchell was a veteran and retired Bellingham firefighter, according to a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for the care of his wife, Harriet. Mitchell had been Harriet’s caregiver since her stroke two-and-a-half years ago. Hartwell and Harriet Mitchell, who were married in Bellingham, would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year.
This story was updated with new information April 5 at 7:45 a.m.
