Driver charged with DUII in Hwy. 97 Redmond rollover crash

A 64-year-old Terrebonne man faces DUII, reckless driving and other charges after his SUV left U.S. Highway 97 in Redmond, crashed into a guardrail and overturned Monday afternoon, police said.

Officers got several calls just after 2:30 p.m. from witnesses who said an SUV had struck a guardrail head-on and rolled several times, said Sgt. Curtis Chambers.

Officers arrived to find the driver, Stuart Smith, already out of the overturned Ford Explorer, after receiving help from a passerby. Chambers said the driver had a visible, minor injury, but declined medical treatment at the scene.

A preliminary investigation found that Smith was heading south on the highway and failed to negotiate a sweeping left-hand curve. The SUV went onto the right shoulder, then onto the soft, dirt shoulder for about 400 feet before striking the ODOT guardrail.

The SUV was towed from the scene and ODOT Incident Response assisted at the scene.

An investigation led to Smith’s arrest on charges of DUII, reckless driving and second-degree criminal mischief, Chambers said. Once he was in police custody, he was taken to St. Charles Redmond for treatment and eventually cited on the charges and released to the hospital’s care.

Chambers said Redmond police are seeking any witnesses to the crash, asking them to call the department through the Deschutes County dispatch non-emergency numbers, 541-693-6911.

“DUII-related fatalities, injuries and property damage are 100% preventable,” Chambers said in a news release. “A person choosing to drive after becoming impaired by an intoxicant is putting all the other drivers, pedestrians, mothers, fathers and all of our children at risk. If choosing to consume a substance which will impair your ability to operate a vehicle safely, please do not drive.”

“While DUII drivers never ‘intend’ to kill, injure or destroy property, the consequences are very much ‘intentional,’ the sergeant continued. “DUII drivers face driver license suspension(s), court fees, attorney fees, impound fees, Division fees (if they qualify), treatment fees, ignition interlock device fees and jail time just for a misdemeanor level DUII. Higher costs and potential prison time are possible for DUII, because in Oregon, DUII is a felony upon a person’s third conviction.”

“Please do not drive impaired – everyone else appreciates it!” Chambers concluded.

The crash was one of three on Highway 97 in Central Oregon Monday afternoon. The first occurred just north of Bend around 1:50 p.m., blocking three lanes and causing major backups. Another rollover crash was reported around 3:15 p.m. near Robal Road, also on Bend’s north end.