Calif. man dies after Hwy. 97 head-on crash

A California man has died at a Bend hospital after a two-car head-on crash Tuesday evening on Highway 97 near Chemult, Oregon State Police reported.

Preliminary information indicates a silver 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by Bill Foster Chapman, 86, of Tulelake, Calif., was heading south around 5:30 p.m. when, for unknown reasons, his car crossed into the northbound lane near milepost 197, colliding with a silver 2011 GMC Acadia SUV, troopers said.

Chapman was taken by Crescent Fire Department medics to Gilchrist, then flown by air ambulance to St. Charles Bend, where he later died, OSP said.

The driver of the GMC, Aaaron Hinrichs, 34, of Eureka, Calif., was taken by ambulance to the Bend hospital with minor injuries. Riding with him were Danielle Hinrichs, 32, and three minor-age children, all of whom also were taken to the Bend hospital with minor injuries.

The highway, which was covered with a mix of ice and snow at the time of the crash, was closed for about 90 minutes after the collision, troopers said.

OSP was assisted at the scene by ODOT and the Chemult and Crescent fire departments.