Speeding, pursued Prineville driver crashes, fatally injured

A speeding driver pursued by police in downtown Prineville was critically injured early Saturday when he ran a stop sign and crashed into one car, then lost control and smashed into three cars parked on the street, leaving a trail of heavy damage, police and witnesses said.

The driver, identified as Chaz Evans, 23, of Prineville, was thrown from his pickup truck before it came to rest, said Police Chief Les Stiles.

He was treated at the scene by officers and Crook County Fire and Rescue medics, then flown to St. Charles Bend, Stiles said. Oregon State Police, called in to investigate the crash, said he later succumbed of his injuries at the Bend hospital.

Around 2:30 a.m., a Prineville officer saw the 2004 Chevy pickup driving from the downtown area at a high rate of speed, the police chief said in a news release. Oregon State Police, called in to investigate the crash, said the truck was spotted near Sixth and Elm Street.

“The officer attempted to close the distance with the vehicle and the driver of the vehicle continued to increase his speed,” Stiles added.

The officer activated his lights and siren as he “continued to attempt to close the distance” with the pickup, Stiles said.

Evans continued through a residential area and onto Juniper Street, where he ran a stop sign at Third Street, speeding into the intersection and striking the front of a 2002 Subaru Legacy driven by Timothy Faulkner, 31, of Prineville, said OSP Lt. Bill Fugate.

Evans lost control of the pickup as it headed south on Juniper Street, colliding with several parked cars and being thrown from the truck, officers said.

He was treated by responding officers and Crook County Fire and Rescue medics, then flown by helicopter to the Bend hospital.

Faulkner was taken to Pioneer Memorial Hospital, where he was treated and released.

OSP responded to conduct an investigation and brought in traffic reconstruction specialists, Stiles said. Third Street (Highway 26) was closed for about four hours for the investigation. OSP also was assisted at the scene by the Crook County Sheriff’s Office and ODOT.

The crash awakened numerous neighbors in the area, while the investigation and clean-up of the crash scene had Juniper Street closed until mid-morning.

While police had not yet said if alcohol was involved, Juniper Apartments resident Lorena Vargas said there were “beer cans all over our lawn” after it happened.

“We were all awakened by a loud noise — almost sounded like thunder,” Vargas said. “Next thing, cops and ambulance surrounded the whole scene.”

“He crashed into all three of my mom’s cars,” she said, including one her sister uses, which was totaled.

OSP said more information will be released when available.