Teen cited after crash into pole east of Bend

A 15-year-old girl was cited for following too closely and having no driver’s license after her pickup struck another car east of Bend Wednesday, then went off the road and hit a utility pole, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

Deputies around 11:45 a.m. to the reported minor-injury crash at the intersection of Ward and Bear Creek roads, sheriff’s Sgt. Kevin Dizney said.

Deputies determined the teen was at the wheel of a green Dodge Ram full-sized pickup heading north on Ward Road. It struck a gray Toyota Prius driven by a 63-year-old Bend woman, also heading north and attempting a left turn onto westbound Bear Creek Road, Dizney said.

The sergeant said the 15-year-old tried to miss the car by passing on the left, but had insufficient room and struck the back of the Prius. That caused her pickup to leave the east side of the road and hit a power pole just north of the intersection.

The collision damaged the pole severely enough that Pacific Power and Century Link had to take it down to prevent it from falling and to help in the pickup’s safe removal from the scene, Dizney said. The damage also caused a temporary internet outage in the area.

Crash investigators determined the teen, who had three juvenile passengers, was following too closely, not allowing enough time for the car ahead to turn left, Dizney said.

Bend Fire Department medics responded and assessed those in the pickup and car. No one required immediate medical attention and no one was transported from the scene for medical reasons.

Dizney also said alcohol, drugs and distracted driving are not believed to be factors in the crash.