SUV Plunges Off Redmond Overpass; Two Injured

Two Redmond women were injured, one seriously, and the driver faces DUII and other charges after their SUV veered in front of another car, struck a guardrail and flew off the Negus Way overpass on Highway 97 late Friday night, police said.

The green 1997 Ford Expedition came to rest about 50 feet down the north side of the embankment, said police Sgt. Bob Duff.

The other driver, Jose Francisco Estrada of Redmond, called 911, climbed down the embankment and rendered aid to the two victims until emergency crews arrived, Duff said, offering the department?s thanks for his efforts.

Around 11:45 p.m., the Expedition was headed east near the crest of the overpass on NE Negus Way when, for unknown reasons, it veered sharply to the left, crossing in front of Estrada?s westbound vehicle, narrowly missing it, Duff said.

The SUV hit the guardrail and became airborne, then hit the embankment, the sergeant said. Redmond Fire medics had to cut away wreckage to free the two trapped victims, said Battalion Chief Chris Simmons.

The driver, Patricia Webb, 24, and passenger Rebecca Kral, 21, were taken to St. Charles Medical Center-Redmond with serious injuries, Duff said. Webb was listed in fair condition Saturday morning at the Redmond hospital, while Kral later was taken to St. Charles-Bend, where she had improved to fair condition by late Monday.

Webb was arrested by citation and released at the hospital, due to her injuries. She faces charges of DUII, second-degree assault, first-degree criminal mischief, two counts of reckless endangering and reckless driving, Duff said.

“They were on their way home,” Jeremy Kuhn, a friend of Webb, told NewsChannel 21’s Brittany Weiner on Saturday at the crash scene. “They made it two blocks from the house. So it just shows, you know, it’s never a good idea to be drinking and driving.”

Anyone with further information about the crash was asked to contact Redmond police through Deschutes County 911?s non-emergency number, 541-693-6911.

Friends of Kral have created an account in her name at Wells Fargo Bank, for donations to help with her medical expenses. Donation containers also have been placed at several Redmond businesses.