Mount Baker School District closed Kendall Elementary on Monday, Jan. 27, after a vehicle crashed into the side of the building Saturday.
Interim Superintendent Nick Perigo said a driver “failed to navigate a turn at Kendall Highway,” became “airborne” and crashed through the side of the building around 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 25. Perigo said the space the school uses for multilingual students and staff was “severely impacted.”
Tiger Construction began work to patch the room at 7:30 a.m. Monday morning, and Perigo said the school will resume “normal operations” on Tuesday.
The driver of the car was treated at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center and was booked into the jail on suspicion of a DUI, Perigo said. Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Deb Slater said the person arrested admitted to deputies that he had consumed alcohol.
Perigo said the district is thankful that this occurred outside of school hours and that all students and staff are safe.
He acknowledged the “quick response” of Whatcom County Fire District 14, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol.
Kendall families can pick up breakfast and lunch at the school at noon today.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
