Driver killed in 27th St. pickup-semi crash identified

A Bend man was was killed Thursday afternoon when his pickup truck crossed into the oncoming lane and collided head-on with a semi-truck on Southeast 27th Street near the entrance to Knott Landfill, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

The crash occurred around 1 p.m. as a black 2000 GMC Sierra pickup driven by David Matthew McDermott, 54, was heading south on 27th Street and crossed into the northbound lane for an unknown reason, said sheriff’s Sgt. Aaron Harding.

McDermott’s pickup collided head-on with a 2011 Freightliner semi driven by David Stearns, 44, of Bend. McDermott died at the scene; Stearns, an employee of Sysco Corp., was not injured.

The cause of the crash was under investigation. SE 27th Street was closed for about four hours after the crash.

The semi’s cab came to rest near the landfill’s entrance sign and the trailer was across the road as the investigation got underway.

During the closure, traffic was diverted at 27th and Ferguson Road, Knott Road and 15th Street and Rickard and Ward roads. Drivers were urged to avoid the area if possible.

Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Bend Fire Department, Oregon State Police, Deschutes County Road Department and county medical examiner, Harding said.