Heather Spaulding injured last night

Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 4:28 a.m.
by Jeff Noedel

FRIDAY HARBOR, WA–Heather Spaulding, editor of the Journal of the San Juan Islands newspaper, was injured at approximately 4:30 p.m. Wednesday when she was hit by a car. She was walking to cover a wrestling match at Friday Harbor High School.

She wanted to cover the wrestling match because few are held on-island.

Heather said the driver of the car that hit her was an older male, whom she did not know. She said the vehicle was not moving at a high speed. The driver stayed on scene and Heather believes he provided a statement to law enforcement. She believes a witness also provided a statement.

Heather suffered fractures in her pelvis and one arm, and one broken leg. Her broken leg required surgery at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham.

She was transported to Bellingham via Island Air.

At approximately 3:00 a.m. this morning, Heather exchanged texts with this reporter and seemed to be in good spirits at the moment.

She wrote, “Our first responders, Island Air personnel, and PeaceHealth doctors and nurses were amazing.”

When Heather returns to Friday Harbor, she intends to keep reporting and editing from home while she is on the mend.