Bend boy, 10, recovering from parkway crash
(Update: Boy in fair condition)
Bend police are looking for witnesses to a crash on the Bend Parkway Thursday morning in which a pickup truck crossed the median and collided with an oncoming car, then overturned. The crash critically injured a 10-year-old Bend boy riding in the car, who remained in critical condition Friday at a Portland hospital.
Bend police and fire medics responded to the reported crash at 8:40 a.m. near the Northwest Hawthorne Avenue exit, police Lt. Clint Burleigh said.
First responders learned a 2007 Chevy Silverado pickup had been heading north, with a 33-year-old Bend man at the wheel, when it crossed the center median and collided with a southbound Subaru Impreza driven by a 27-year-old Bend man, Burleigh said.
A 10-year-old boy riding in the Impreza was removed by the driver and police immediately began lifesaving efforts until Bend Fire crews arrived moments later. He was taken to St. Charles Bend with life-threatening injuries and later flown to a Portland-area trauma center, Burleigh said.
The driver of the pickup was trapped in it until Bend Fire crews were able to remove him and take him to St. Charles Bend with non-life-threatening injuries, the lieutenant said. The Subaru driver did not suffer noticeable injuries, he added.
Oregon State Police and ODOT assisted with the on-scene investigation, which blocked the southbound lanes for just over an hour.
As the investigation continues, Bend Police asked any witnesses to the crash to contact them at 541-693-6911.
Friends of the little boy’s family have identified him as Avryn Hayes and confirmed he was in Portland hospital’s ICU with a broken leg and fractured skull. OHSU confirmed he was in critical condition at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, but that he had improved to fair condition by eaerly this week.
Dutch Bros donated a dollar from every drink sold last Friday at its Central Oregon locations to help the boy and his family with medical and other expenses. A GoFundMe page also was established at https://www.gofundme.com/support-young-angler-avryn-hayes
A neighbor told NewsChannel 21 the car hit the fence in her duplex’s backyard and nearly hit a window in her daughter’s room.
Traffic quickly backed up during the morning commute as the injured were treated and crash investigated.
Deschutes County dispatchers said southbound parkway traffic was being detoured for a time onto the Revere Avenue exit, as well as the southbound on-ramp farther north, at Empire Avenue.
ODOT officials said the southbound lanes were closed near the Hawthorne Avenue exit and urged motorists to find an alternate route.
The lanes reopened before 10 a.m.
