Driver cited in Hwy. 97 rear-end crash
A Klamath Falls man whose car struck an SUV from behind on Highway 97 south of Redmond late last Friday night, sending three people to the hospital with serious injuries, has been cited on DUII and other charges, Oregon State Police said Wednesday.
An investigation by troopers into the crash led to charges against Pedro Sanchez Cariero, 23, who was cited to appear in Deschutes County Circuit Court on the DUII charge, as well as reckless driving, second-degree criminal mischief and three counts each of recklessly endangering another person and second-degree assault.
Around 11 p.m. Friday, a 2004 Toyota 4Runner driven by Eric J. Schneider, 46, from Bend, was southbound on Highway 97 near milepost 125 when it was struck from behind by a 2009 Pontiac driven by Sanchez Cariero, troopers said.
After impact, the Toyota SUV left the highway and rolled, coming to rest on its side. The Pontiac came to a rest in the center turn lane on Highway 97, troopers said.
Sanchez Cariero was flown by Life Flight air ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center-Bend with serious injuries, troopers said. A nursing supervisor said Sanchez Cariero was in good condition at the hospital Saturday afternoon.
Schneider refused transport from medics, but two passengers from his car were taken by ambulance to the Bend hospital and St. Charles-Redmond with serious injuries. Their names were not available, troopers said.
Safety restraint information also was not available. Trooper Bob Olson was lead investigator in the case.
OSP was assisted at the scene by Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, and fire departments from Bend and Redmond.
Fenway is Schneider’s dog, thrown from SUV when it was rear-ended. Family had been unable to find him — but others did Monday
Schneider said his dog, Fenway, was thrown from the truck and ran from the crash scene, and was still missing Sunday night.
Schneider said Fenway is a black and brown suspected rottweiler/shepherd mix the family adopted from the shelter, weighing about 90 pounds, and is “extremely gentle.”
“He is a significant part of our family,” he said, “and we need him as much as he needs us.”
Good news came Monday, after word of the lost dog on KTVZ.COM and NewsChannel 21.
Juniper Golf Club employee Jeff Roundtree said a woman who walks the nearby trails with her two dogs found Fenway Monday morning, under a tree about a mile south of the golf course, on BLM land.
Roundtree said he and co-worker R.J. Shopman hiked in and found Fenway, “scared and hurt,” and carried him out to be reunited with his family.
Schneider said later that Fenway was “a little battered” by the ordeal with surgery set for Tuesday, “but should be fine.” He expressed thanks to the community and their friends. (The Deschutes Vet Clinic later said Tuesday’s foot surgery went well.)
