Bellingham Police Department released the name of the victim who died in a hit-and-run collision on Meridian Street Jan. 6.
Tarria K. Conger, 49, of Bellingham, died at the scene after her vehicle erupted into flames upon being struck by a vehicle driven by Teofilo Garcia Uribe. A Bellingham police officer attempted to extinguish the fire but it was too large.
Uribe is charged with vehicular homicide, driving under the influence and hit-and-run resulting in death. He is currently being held in Whatcom County Jail on a $1 million appearance bond.
Conger’s family created a GoFundMe on Jan. 7 with a goal of collecting $3,000 in donations for Conger’s sister, the fundraising page states. As of Thursday night, the fundraiser had 160 donors and had raised $6,335.
Conger was born on Oct. 12, 1973, and “was the glue that held our family together,” Conger’s niece, Jennifer Cortes, wrote on the fundraising page.
“She would do anything for anyone and give the shirt off her back for the next. She was a second mother to my children, an aunt that can’t be replaced, a sister that loved, a niece, a cousin and one heck of a special friend to many,” Cortes continued. Cascadia Daily News has reached out to Conger’s family for comment.
A roadside memorial was erected in honor of Conger, with trinkets, stuffed bears, memorabilia and a note that reads, “We love you Tarria RIP.”
