Powell Butte man injured, cited in Hwy. 126 crash

A Powell Butte man was hospitalized and cited by Oregon State Police after a two-pickup collision Saturday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 126 and the Powell Butte Highway, troopers said.

The crash occurred shortly after 3 p.m., when a 1974 Ford pickup driven by Paul J. Smith, 53, of Powell Butte, turned left from the Powell Butte Highway onto Highway 126, troopers said.

They said Smith failed to yield the right of way to a 1996 Dodge 2500 with camper, which was heading east and driven by Daryl G. Berns, 63, of Cloverdale, Calif.

Smith was taken to St. Charles Redmond, where he was listed in good condition Sunday, according to a house supervisor. Troopers said he was cited for making a dangerous left turn.

The collision caused heavy front-end damage to both pickups, which were towed from the scene.

ODOT and several citizens assisted with traffic control, while Crook County sheriff’s deputies assisted in the investigation, troopers said.

The crash, investigation and clean-up also restricted traffic in the area for a time. It was fully cleared by about 6:15 p.m.

An Active Towing driver was passing by and stopped to help, assisting authorities in the traffic detail as well, a company representative said.