Central Oregon – Emergency officials have been busy since last week’s snow storm. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office reported multiple crashes and slide off incidents throughout the area over the weekend. The highest number of them were due to driving too fast for the dangerous conditions.
Sunday afternoon, crews were called to a serious near head on crash on Highway 97 near Bowery Lane, about two miles north of Bend. According to witnesses, an F-150 driven by 53 year old Efrin Mena of Medford was driving southbound on Hwy 97 when he apparently lost control and crossed over in to oncoming traffic lanes. The F-150 nearly struck a Ford Explorer head on driven by 41 year old Tara Davis of Redmond.
There were five passengers in the pickup and three passengers in the SUV. Both drivers had to be extricated from the vehicle using specialty tools by the Bend Fire Department. The injuries of the crash ranged from very minor to serious. None of the injuries appeared to be life threatening.
Again, police ask all drivers to slow down and be very respectful of the dangerous and hazardous conditions that will be with us this week and throughout the winter.
