Hwy. 20 crash victims improve; driver charged with DUII

A 24-year-old drunk driver was cited at the hospital after he crossed the center line of U.S. Highway 20 near Santiam Junction and struck an SUV head-on Thursday evening, seriously injuring himself and the two people in the other vehicle, Oregon State Police said.

Cody D. Oxford, 24, was flown by air ambulance to St. Charles Bend with what initially were called life-threatening injuries after the crash, which occurred around 6:45 p.m. near milepost 80, said OSP Lt. Bill Fugate. By Friday afternoon, however, he was listed in fair condition at the hospital, officials said.

A preliminary investigation indicates Oxford, apparently a transient, was heading west when he lost control of his 2001 Subaru Outback and it crossed the center line, hitting a 2001 Chevy Trailblazer head-on, Fugate said.

The driver of the Chevy, Ry Wright, 42, and passenger Laurie Wright, 40, both of Springfield, were taken by ambulance to the Bend hospital with serious injuries, the lieutenant said. A hospital spokeswoman said Friday afternoon the couple had been treated and released.

Oxford was cited for DUII-alcohol, reckless driving, two counts of recklessly endangering and two counts of assault, Fugate said.

Highway 20 was closed about a mile west of the Santiam Pass summit for about two hours for the crash investigation, the lieutenant said.