Powell Butte man crashes truck trying to avoid deer

A 34-year-old Powell Butte man escaped serious injuries early Saturday when he tried to avoid a group of deer in the road and his pickup truck hit a large boulder, slid across the road, struck a rock wall and overturned, Crook County sheriff’s deputies said.

Deputies were dispatched around 12:30 a.m. to Southwest Bent Loop and Twin Lakes Ranch Road on a report of a non-injury crash, said Deputy Dan Smith.

Deputies arrived and found a 2004 Ford F-350 off the west side of the road, Smith said.

They learned Travis Heitstuman of Powell Butte had been heading north on Bend Loop when his truck struck the boulder after trying to avoid a group of deer in the road. The heavily damaged pickup slid across the road and overturned after hitting the rock wall.

Heitstuman sustained minor injuries and declined medical aid, Smith said, adding that he was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

While the investigation is continuing, the deputy said no citations had been issued and alcohol was not a suspected factor.