Madras man in hospital after car-pedestrian crash

A 77-year-old Madras man was in good condition Friday at a Bend hospital, one day after the pedestrian was struck by a car while crossing Highway 97 in Madras, police said.

Officers were dispatched just after 5 a.m. Thursday to the reported collision on Highway 97 near M Street, in front of the Madras Truck Stop, Police Chief Tanner Stanfill said.

An investigation determined the driver, Eric Whittenburg, 36, also of Madras, was heading north on Highway 97, driving a 2005 Dodge Neon.

Whittenburg and a witness said pedestrian Robert Restorff had “darted” from the side of the highway, west into the traffic lane, where he was struck by the car, Stanfill said.

Restorff was taken by Jefferson County EMS to St. Charles Madras and later transported to St. Charles Bend.

“Speeds were not a factor” in the crash, the police chief said. He added that the driver was not charged or cited, based on the results of the investigation.