Eugene man injured in Hwy. 97 head-on near La Pine

A Eugene man was taken to St. Charles Bend with non-life-threatening injuries after a La Pine man’s SUV slid into the oncoming lane and struck another SUV head-on on icy Highway 97 north of La Pine Monday morning, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

Deputies, a U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer and La Pine Rural Fire District medics were dispatched shortly before 11 a.m. to the reported crash at Highway 97 and State Rec Road, said sheriff’s Sgt. Ty Rupert.

Deputies determined William Bones, 72, of La Pine, was heading north at the wheel of a red 1998 Ford Explorer when he lost control of the SUV due to icy roads, Rupert said.

Bones’ SUV crossed the center line and collided head-on with a southbound, white 2014 Porsche Cayenne driven by David Gonyea, 45, of Eugene.

Gonyea was taken by La Pine Fire medics to St. Charles Bend with non-life-threatening injuries, Rupert said. Bones, who ws alone in the Escape, was treated by medics at the scene and released, as was a juvenile passenger in Gonyea’s vehicle.

The crash and investigation closed Highway 97 for nearly a half-hour. ODOT crews assisted with traffic control and clearing debris from the road.