La Pine man killed in Hwy. 97 crash helped rescue parade victim
A semi driver lost control on icy Highway 97 near Sunriver Friday night and the crossed into oncoming lanes, colliding head-on with a pickup truck and killing its driver — a La Pine man who helped rescue a little girl run over at last weekend’s Christmas parade, a family member said.Saturday
Oregon State Police troopers and emergency personnel responded shortly after 8 p.m. to the reported head-on crash on Highway 97 at milepost 154, near Sunriver, said OSP Lt. Bill Fugate.
Preliminary information indicates a 2015 Freightliner driven by Dennis M. Woods, 30, of Sacramento, California, was heading south on the highway when he lost control on the icy road, Fugate said.
The truck crossed into the northbound lanes, where it struck a 1993 Ford F-350 head-on. The pickup’s driver, David D. Taylor, 30, of La Pine, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Taylor’s two passengers, Amanda F. Porter, 23, and a 7-year-old boy, both of La Pine were taken to St. Charles Bend with what Fugate said were non-life-threatening injuries.
Woods also went to the Bend hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Fugate said, and was cited for failure to drive within a lane.
Tim Jennings told NewsChannel 21 his brother in law, who went by Davey, “was an amazing man who never hesitated to help someone in need.”
“He loved his son very dearly and his world revolved around that boy,” Jennings wrote. “He indeed was involved in freeing the little girl from under the float at the La Pine Christmas Parade. That’s just the kind of guy he was. He never once stopped to think about himself when there was someone in need — he just jumped into action.”
Jennings also said his nephew underwent surgery and is recovering, while Porter “has a few broken bones, but she will be okay, too.”
A St. Charles house supervisor said Porter was in fair condition Saturday, while Woods was treated and released after the crash.
The crash and investigation prompted lengthy detours and caused major traffic backups in the area. OSP was assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Sunriver Police Department and ODOT.
First responders said the jackknifed semi was leaking diesel fuel and blocking a northbound lane.
Traffic was diverted around the crash onto South Century Drive, Spring River Road and Vandevert Road. The road reopened overnight.
ODOT had reported black ice on the highway in the La Pine area Friday night after recent snowfall. It also said there was packed snow south of Bend. The road south of Bend was treacherous again Saturday as snow moved in, with numerous slide-offs and trucks blocking the road at Lava Butte until they were ordered to pull over and chain up. Check TripCheck on KTVZ.COM for updates.
