DCSO hears from driver who sheared off pole, fled

(Update: Driver of car contacts police; no info yet on any charges)

A driver crashed into a power pole and sheared it in half at an intersection north of Bend late Friday night, then left the scene and was not heard from until Saturday morning, officials said. The crash knocked out power to about 800 Central Electric Cooperative members in the area for seven hours.

The driver of a red 1992 two-door Honda Prelude was heading south on Deschutes Market Road and came around some sharp S turns when the driver apparently lost control at the intersection with Dale Road, slid sideways and struck the pole, Deschutes County sheriff’s Sgt. Kevin Dizney said.

The car was found abandoned at the scene of the crash, which tore the pole in half and prompted calls to CEC officials about 11:15 p.m. that the power had gone out, Dizney said.

Deputies arrived on the scene within eight minutes and were unable to find the driver. Dizney said the reporting party saw someone walking in the area who may have been the driver, but a search was unsuccessful. He or she was described as wearing a dark sweatshirt and jeans, with no further description.

The car had extensive damage to the driver’s side front quarter panel and the pole was broken off at its base but still standing, supported by a single guy wire and leaning out across the road, prompting closure of the road until the pole could be replaced.

An extensive search for the car’s registered owner and the person seen walking nearby failed to find the driver, Dizney said. But deputies said later Saturday that the driver had contacted authorities. No further details were released as the investigation continued.

It was not immediately known if the driver was hurt of there were any passengers in the car. Dizney said there were no indications of drug or alcohol use found at the scene, but “speed is considered to be a factor in the crash.”

Anyone with information that could help was asked to contact Deschutes County dispatchers at 541-693-6911 and reference case No. 18-334093.

The crash knocked out power to 785 CEC members north and northeast of Bend. In a post to its outage page Saturday morning it took until 6:30 a.m. to restore power, s crews needed to completely replace the pole.

The crash and repair work prompted closure of Deschutes Market Road between Dale and 19th Street, which connects to Morrill Road, Dizney said.

Dizney said deputies were still looking for the driver early Saturday and asked the public for any assistance in their investigation, by calling dispatchers at 541-693-6911.

Friday also was the scheduled completion date for a Deschutes County improvement project at the Deschutes Market Road Dale/Road intersection. That work included adding a left-turn lane for southbound Deschutes Market Road and realigning Dale Road at the intersection so the two roads intersect each other at right angles.