Prineville man critically hurt in ATV-pickup crash

A 78-year-old Prineville man was critically injured Thursday evening when his side-by-side ATV was struck by a pickup truck while crossing the O’Neil Highway, Prineville police said.

Police, Crook County sheriff’s deputies, Oregon State Police, Crook County Fire and Rescue and ODOT responded around 5:25 p.m. to the reported collision in the 2000 block of Northwest O’Neil Highway, police Capt. Larry Seymour said.

Initial reports indicated the ATV had tried to cross the highway and was struck by a northbound pickup, throwing the ATV operator, Harold Wayne Kee , Seymour said.

First responders found the ATV on its side off the road, about 30 feet from the point of impact, he said. A 2006 Ford F-150 driven by a 27-year-old Texas man was about 250 feet north of the crash scene. The driver was unhurt and fully cooperated with the investigation, Seymour said.

A Life Flight helicopter was called in and took Kee to St. Charles Bend with life-threatening injuries, the captain said. A hospital spokeswoman said he remained in critical condition Friday afternoon.

The crash and investigation closed the highway in both directions for about four hours. Both vehicles sustained significant damage.

Seymour said drugs, alcohol and excessive speed don’t appear to be factors at this time. He said Prineville police want to thank all witnesses who came forward, along with the assistance of the other first responders and ODOT’s crew that provided traffic control.