Update: Struck, killed cows east of Bend not a hit-and-run

(Update: Driver had notified OSP about the crash; deputies say no crime committed)

Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said Thursday they were looking for whoever struck and killed two 1,000-pound cows on a ranch about 30 miles east of Bend and failed to report the collision. But they learned hours later the driver did indeed report the crash to Oregon State Police, and no crime was committed.

A sheriff’s deputy on routine ATV patrol around 7:20 a.m. Sunday came upon the two dead black cows on and near Dickerson Well Road, also known Fox Butte Road, about 1 1/2 miles west of Moffit Road, said Lt. Bryan Husband.

The deputy stopped to investigate and found broken vehicle parts in the roadway near the dead cows. They were determined to be from the front of a Ford pickup truck, leading the deputy to believe the truck likely struck and killed the cows sometime during the previous night, Husband said.

The area where the cows were found was determined to be within open range, making the driver legally responsible for notifying law enforcement and/or the animals’ owner, the lieutenant said.

On Thursday night, Husband said the driver, a Redmond man, contacted the sheriff’s office after the news release was issued, taking responsibility for the crash

The driver said he’d contacted Oregon State Police dispatchers “within an appropriate amount of time”” after the crash, according to Husband, who said deputies were able to confirm the information.

“This accident is no longer being investigated as a criminal matter,” Husband said in an update.

Deputies said the driver will provide the cattle owner with his insurance information. Because the incident was reported directly to OSP dispatch, the driver’s information had not been shared with the sheriff’s office or cattle owner, they said.

Husband said earlier it was believed the front of the pickup sustained significant damage. The area was searched, but the truck was not found.

Ken Burbank, owner of Lazy CJ Ranch on Highway 20, told NewsChannel 21 he takes pride in his 120,000-acre property.

Burbank, who has been raising cattle for over 20 years, said he was notified two of his black Angus cows were killed some time last weekend.

Burbank said both cows were valued at $5,000, and a quick notification could have made a big difference, in terms of revenue.

“Well, if we only knew, we could have saved them for beef. Can’t now,” Burbank said.