Bend man killed in crash on Old Bend-Redmond Highway

(Update: Sheriff’s office confirms fatality, IDs driver)

An 84-year-old Bend man was killed Wednesday morning when his SUV left the Old Bend-Redmond Highway north of Bend, went through a fence and struck a large juniper tree head-on, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies reported.

There were no other occupants of the SUV in the single-vehicle crash, reported to 911 around 10:20 a.m. in the 65000 block of the highway, Sgt. Kevin Dizney said.

Deputies and Bend Fire medics arrived and determined the driver, Frank E. Farey, had been heading north at the wheel of a red 2002 Suzuki SUV when “for unknown reasons at this time” he failed to negotiate a left-hand curve in the road, Dizney said.

Farey drove off the embankment and into the yard of a home on the east side of the road, crashing through a wire fence and striking the juniper tree head-on, causing significant front-end damage to the SUV.

Bend Fire crews removed Farey from the SUV and took him by ambulance to St. Charles Bend, where Dizney said he died of his injuries.

Speed, drugs and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the crash at this time, Dizney said, adding that the roadway was dry, with no obstructions.

One lane of travel was partially blocked for about a half-hour for emergency vehicle parking, but travel in both directions was maintained.