Tumalo man killed in Thanksgiving Day crash
A 56-year-old Tumalo-area man was killed in the crash of his pickup into a tree on Thanksgiving Day, Oregon State Police reported Friday.
Troopers and emergency personnel responded around 4:15 p.m. to the reported single-vehicle crash on Innes Market Road near Waldron Trail, west of Bend, said OSP Captain Bill Fugate.
A preliminary investigation found that Blake D. Payne was at the wheel of a 2004 Ford F-250 was heading west on Innes Market Road when he lost control negotiating a corner, left the road and hit the tree, Fugate said.
A passing motorist came across the crash and called 911, reporting it appeared the driver was unconscious and not breathing. But the passer-by could not reach Payne because the pickup was locked, Fugate said.
An OSP trooper was on scene within a few minutes and broke the window to reach the driver and provide first aid. But Payne was pronounced dead on the scene a short time later, the OSP captain said.
Both air bags deployed, Fugate said, but it appeared Payne was not wearing a seat belt and had struck his head on the windshield.
OSP was assisted on the scene by Bend Fire medics and Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies.
