Two DUII Drivers Jailed After Smashing Drives In NE Bend

In two unrelated incidents just two hours apart,twoalleged drunk drivers left separate paths of destruction in a pair of northeast Bend neighborhoods Sunday night, police said.

In the first incident, a Bend woman allegedly driving drunk with her 7-year-old son in the car was arrested after smashing into a car, a cable box, shrubs, a tree, a “No Parking” sign and a fishing boat, sending the boat crashing through the garage door of an unoccupied duplex.

In the second incident, another Bend woman failed to make a corner and smashed into two parked vehicles and a tree, sending one of the cars into a third vehicle.

There were no injuries in the first incident, said Officer Nick Parker. But in the second case, the woman tried to run but was caught by three alleged victims, allegedly fighting them and leading to minor injuries.

The driver in the first case, Erica Lynn Blackwell, 35, remained lodged Monday in the Deschutes County Jail on $30,000 bail, facing charges of DUII, two counts each of failure to perform the duties of a driver and first-degree criminal mischief, four counts of recklessly endangering and a single count of reckless driving.

Around 7:50 p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched on a report that a blue 1989 Toyota Camry had crashed into a residence at 1051 NE Rambling Lane, No. 2, Parker said.

Officers determined Blackwell had first lost control of the car while heading west on Mary Rose Place, near Watt Way, the officer said.

The driver, unable to keep her car on the road, hit a cable box on the south side of the road, causing significant damage, then continued through the yard of 1052 NE Rambling Lane No. 1., running over shrubs and a tree and striking the “No Parking” sign, Parker said.

Blackwell then continued westbound across Rambling Lane and into the driveway of 1051 NE Rambling Lane No. 2, where it struck an 18-foot North River fishing boat, parked on a trailer in the driveway, Parker said.

The collision sent the boat and trailer into the attached garage, causing extensive damage to the unoccupied duplex, boat and Blackwell’s car.

Blackwell was found to be intoxicated. She was taken into custody, and a warrant was obtained for her blood to be analyzed for blood-alcohol content, Parker said.

Investigating officers also learned Blackwell had crashed into the back of another car near 27th Street and Forum Avenue, Parker said, fleeing that scene before the later crashes, Parker said.

In the second, incident, around 9:50 p.m., police responded to the area of Northeast Elk Court and Lotus Drive on a reported crash, said Lt. Ken Stenkamp. Arriving officers found three parked cars and a tree had been damaged.

Officers determined a black 2007 Volkswagen Jetta driven by Britney J. Swearingen, 25, was eastbound on Lotus Drive and tried to turn onto Elk Court, but failed to make the corner and struck a car parked in the driveway of 1398 NE Elk Court belonging to Kristen Henkel, 24, Stenkamp said.

The Jetta drove on, hitting a tree in the home’s yard, then striking another car parked on Elk Court belonging to Cassandra Sept, 23, of Bend.

That pushed Sept’s parked car into a third car, belonging to Glen Eckersley, 55, the lieutenant said.

Swearingen then tried to start her car several times, but when it failed, she got out and tried to run, Stenkamp said.

Henkel, Adam Cornelison, 24, and Christa Biggalt, 57, caught and detained Swearingen before she could run away, Stenkamp said, but Swearingen allegedly fought with them, resulting in them suffering minor injuries.

Swearingen was arrested on charges of DUII, reckless driving, harassment and two counts each of failure to perform the duties of a driver in a crash (hit and run) and fourth-degree assault. She was lodged in the county jail on $16,000 bail and later released to a responsible third party.