Fla. man killed, La Pine woman critically hurt in Hwy. 97 crash

A Florida man was killed and a La Pine woman critically injured in a head-on crash Thursday night on Highway 97 in northern Klamath County, Oregon State Police reported.

OSP received at least one complaint just after 9 p.m. of a southbound dark blue or black Ford pickup driving in the shoulder of Highway 97 in southern Deschutes County, said OSP Lt. Bill Fugate.

Around 9:30 p.m., a trooper who had been trying to find the pickup spotted it traveling at a high rate of speed near milepost 176, south of La Pine and six miles south of the Highway 31 junction, Fugate said. The trooper checked its speed on radar at or near 100 mph.

While the trooper was trying to overtake the pickup, it collided head-on with an oncoming (northbound) 2000 Honda Accord.

The driver of the pickup, Jeffrey L. Baugher, 72, of Sarasota, Florida, was pronounced dead at the scene, Fugate said.

The Honda’s driver, Chamreun M. Newton, 30, of La Pine, was given first aid by the trooper until medics arrived. She was flown to St. Charles Bend with serious injuries, Fugate said. She was listed in critical condition Friday morning, according to a house supervisor.

Highway 97 was closed for over three hours, then restricted until 3:30 a.m., for the crash investigation. OSP was assisted at the scene by Crescent Fire and ODOT, Fugate said.

More information will be released when it becomes available, the lieutenant added.