Crash sends cars into icy canal; Sisters man cited

A Sisters man was cited for careless driving Wednesday after he lost control of his SUV during a pass on icy Hwy. 97 northof Klamath Falls and crashed into a car, sending both sliding into an irrigation canal, one atop the other, Oregon State Police said.

Three members of a Chelan, Wash, family — including a 2-month-old boy — were taken to the hospital with minor injuries after the crash, which happened shortly after 1 p.m.

According to Recruit Trooper Thomas Andreazzi, a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Howard Kingman, 70, of Sisters, was northbound on Highway 97 near milepost 264 when he tried to pass a Toyota Prius occupied by the Wash. family.

During the pass, Kingman lost control on the icy road and crashed into the Prius, Andreazzi said.

Both vehicles slid off the highway and down an embankment, where they came to rest in an irrigation canal with the Chevrolet Tahoe on top of the Toyota Prius. Both vehicles broke through the ice, with most of the Toyota Prius submerged underwater.

Kingman, who was unhurt, was cited by OSP for careless driving.

The Toyota’s driver, Robert Burton, 56, and passengers Bree Burton, 20, and her 2-month old son were taken by ambulance to Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls with minor injuries, the trooper said.

OSP troopers from the Klamath Falls Area Command office investigated. Troopers were assisted at the scene by local emergency responders and ODOT.