La Pine man cited in rear-end injury crash

A La Pine man was cited for following too closely and triggering a three-vehicle rear-end crash at a La Pine intersection that injured three people Wednesday afternoon, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

The crash occurred about 12:50 p.m. at the corner of Burgess Road and Meadow Lane, said sheriff’s Sgt. Aaron Harding.

A Ford Econoline van driven by Michael V. Johnson, 56, of La Pine, accompanied by Diane Johnson, 64, was heading east of Burgess and stopped to wait for traffic to clear so it could turn onto Meadow Lane, Harding said.

A Chevy Blazer driven by Clifford Sunderland, 86, also of La Pine, was stopped behind the van.

A Dodge Ram 2500 pickup driven by Kameron J. Michael, 21, also was heading east, failed to stop and rear-ended the Blazer, which then struck the van.

The Johnsons were taken by ambulance to St. Charles Bend with non-life-threatening injuries, Harding said. Sunderland was treated at the scene by La Pine Fire paramedics.

Burgess Road was closed in both directions for about an hour for the investigation and as the vehicles were removed from the scene, the sergeant said.