Driver identified in fatal crash west of Prineville

Oregon State Police on Tuesday identified a 24-year-old Prineville man as the driver who died Monday evening when his car was struck on the side by an SUV at the intersection of Highway 126 and the O’Neil Highway just west of Prineville.

Troopers said Stephen Poole was pronounced dead at the crash scene, said OSP Captain Bill Fugate.

Troopers and emergency personnel responded around 5:15 p.m. to the reported crash.

Preliminary information indicated Poole’s 1997 Plymouth Neon was turning eastbound onto Highway 126 from Highway 370 (the O’Neil Highway) when it was struck on the driver’s side by a 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander SUV that was heading west on Highway 126, Fugate said.

The SUV driver, Jessica Bean, 23, of Prineville, declined medical attention.

Fugate said Tuesday the contributing factors in the crash are still under investigation, and no more information was being released at this time.

Highway 126 was reduced to two lanes of east-west travel for 2 ½ hours during the crash investigation.

OSP was assisted by ODOT, the Crook County Sheriff’s Office and Prineville Police. More information will be released when available, Fugate said.