Bend man injured, charged in DUII rollover crash

(Update: Driver charged with DUII-alcohol; investigators say drugs also may be a factor)

A 32-year-old Bend man faces DUII, reckless driving and a weapons charge after his SUV left Deschutes Market Road north of Bend, struck several mailboxes and sheared off a power pole Friday afternoon, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

Deputies were dispatched around 12:40 p.m. to the reported crash on Deschutes Market Road, just south of Findlay Lane, Lt. Ty Rupert said.

Arriving deputies contacted the driver of the 2008 Acura SUV, Kenneth Cole Bush, who had removed himself from the overturned vehicle, Rupert said.

An investigation found that Bush was heading north on Deschutes Market Road when his SUV left the road, struck several mailboxes and sheared off a Central Electric Cooperative power pole, the lieutenant said.

CEC was dispatched to replace the damaged pole, but there were no reports of power outages at the time of the crash.

Rupert said investigators determined Bush had tried to hide a handgun at the scene before deputies arrived.

Bush was evaluated at the scene and taken by Bend Fire medics to St. Charles Bend with non-life-threatening injuries, Rupert said.

After the investigation, Bush was arrested by citation in lieu of custody on charges of DUII, reckless driving and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was then left in the care of medical staff for further treatment.

Rupert said Bush was charged with DUII-alcohol and deputies are investigating if drugs also were a factor.