Bend teen arrested in Alfalfa Market Rd. DUII crash

An 18-year-old Bend resident was arrested on a DUII charge Saturday after his pickup truck crashed into a tree and overturned, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said. He was not injured, nor was an 18-year-old passenger who was cited for minor in possession of alcohol.

Shortly after 7 a.m., A deputy spotted two vehicles speeding east on Neff Road near Hamby Road, said Sgt. Jayson Janes. The deputy tried to catch up to the vehicles to stop them, but they were too far ahead and he discontinued the pursuit, Janes said.

About seven minutes later, dispatchers advised that a silver truck had crashed and overturned Alfalfa Market Road near milepost 4. A passerby notified dispatch that another vehicle had pulled to the crash scene, picked up the truck’s driver and left the area.

Janes said deputies arrived at the crash scene and learned the pickup’s driver apparently had failed to negotiate a right-hand curve and it left the road, struck a tree, overturned and came to rest after striking another tree. No one was still on scene of the crash.

With help from Bend police, the driver of the 2000 Ford F-150, identified as Brandon Mehren, and passenger Alec Jones were located, reporting no injuries from the crash, Janes said.

Mehren was arrested on a DUII charge and taken to the county jail, where he was lodged and later released. The sergeant said it was determined Mehren was driving the truck, seen earlier driving at a high rate of speed. Jones was issued a citation for minor in possession of alcohol.

The truck was removed from the scene by Trac Towing, Janes said, adding that the case was still under investigation, with the possibility of more criminal charges.