Prineville man revived, charged after Tumalo Hwy. 20 crash

(Update: Driver in critical condition)

A Prineville man whose car crashed into a guardrail on Highway 20 in Tumalo on Tuesday afternoon, then crossed the oncoming lane and struck an embankment was found not breathing by bystanders but revived by Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies. They said he was then taken to the hospital and cited on DUII-drugs and other charges.

Deputies were dispatched around 2:40 p.m. after witnesses called 911 dispatchers to report a silver Cadillac DeVille had crashed into a guardrail while driving through Tumalo, heading east, Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp said.

The driver, later identified as Tyland John Shoals, 28, of Prineville, continued heading east toward Bend, his car crossing the center line into oncoming traffic on the east Tumalo grade of Highway 20, then leaving the north side of the road and crashing into an embankment, Vander Kamp said.

Bystanders stopped to check on the driver and found he was unresponsive and not breathing, the sergeant said. Deputies arrived minutes later and, with the help of bystanders, provided Shoals lifesaving medical aid.

Bend Fire Department medics arrived to assist and took Shoals to St. Charles Bend, where he was listed in critical condition early Wednesday.

ODOT also responded to assist with traffic control after the crash.

Investigating deputies determined Shoal appeared to be having an emergency medical issue at the time of the crash. Vander Kamp said Shoals was arrested by citation in lieu of custody at the hospital on charges of DUII drugs, recklessly endangering another and reckless driving.

“Instead of a physical arrest, the citation in lieu of custody releases the person on the promise to appear in court at a specified date and time,” Vander Kamp said in a news release. “Due to (federal patient) privacy laws, I am unable to specify the reason a citation in lieu of custody was used in this particular case.

“However, citations in lieu of custody are often used when people … charged with certain misdemeanor or felony offenses are too unhealthy or ill for jail, they require emergent medical or mental health care at a hospital or several other unusual circumstances,” he explained. “However, a citation in lieu of custody is still an arrest and does not discount the seriousness of the alleged crimes.”