La Pine, Ore. – Oregon State Police say last night just after 9:00PM, OSP received at least one driving complaint of a southbound dark blue or black Ford Pickup driving on the shoulder of Highway 97 in southern Deschutes County.
At around 9:30PM, a trooper who had been attempting to locate the vehicle, observed it traveling at a high rate of speed on Highway 97 near milepost 176 (south of Lapine in Klamath County). The trooper checked it’s speed on radar at or close to 100mph. While the trooper was attempting to overtake the vehicle, it crashed head-on with a northbound 2000 Honda Accord.
The subject of the driving complaint, 72 year old Jeffery L BAUGHER of Sarasota, FL, was pronounced deceased on scene. The operator of the 30 year old Honda, Chamreun M NEWTON, of Lapine, was provided first aid by the trooper until medics arrived. She was subsequently taken by air ambulance to St Charles Bend for serious injuries.
Highway 97 was closed for several hours while the investigation was conducted.
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