Bend driver injured, cited in rollover DUII crash

A 35-year-old Bend man was injured in an SUV rollover crash on the Old Bend-Redmond Highway Monday evening that also resulted in fatal injuries to his dog and the driver being cited for drunk driving, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

Deputies and Bend fire medics were dispatched around 7:45 p.m. to the reported crash on the highway near Journey Drive, said Sgt. Deke DeMars. They were told an older SUV had rolled and landed on its side.

Arriving deputies found that driver Nathan Scott Bernhardt needed to be removed from the black 1987 Dodge Raider by fire personnel, DeMars said.

The highway was closed for a brief time so an AirLink helicopter could land and take Bernhardt to St. Charles-Bend with what DeMars indicated were non-life-threatening injuries. He was listed in good condition Tuesday morning.

An investigation determined that Bernhardt was heading south, toward Bend, when his SUV crossed into the northbound lane and shoulder of the highway, then left the road and rolled several times, coming to rest on its side.

The SUV was not equipped with airbags, DeMars said, and Bernhardt was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.

After the investigation, Bernhardt was issued a citation for DUII and released at St. Charles by investigating deputies, DeMars said.

Consolidated Towing removed the vehicle, the deputy said.