Bend man, 21, killed in La Pine-area rollover crash

A 21-year-old Bend man was killed early Thursday morning when his car left a curve on South Century Drive and rolled several times, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

Deputies responded around 7:25 a.m. to help an off-duty sheriff’s deputy who came across the fatal crash on South Century Drive near Big River Drive, said Sgt. Kevin Dizney. The deputy was able to determine the driver, alone in the car, had died. He was assisted at the scene by La Pine Fire crews.

Deputies investigated and determined the driver, Stephen Chase Mickel, was heading west on South Century Drive, negotiating a right-hand curve in a silver 2009 Hyundai Elantra, Dizney said.

Mickel failed to maintain the lane of travel and drifted into the oncoming lane, then onto the shoulder on the opposite side of the road, the sergeant said. He then tried to bring his car back up onto the pavement, but it slid sideways and rolled several times, coming to rest on the north shoulder of the road.

Speed and/or distracted driving are believed to be factors in the crash, Dizney said, but drugs and/or alcohol are not suspected at this time.

Deputies determined Mickel was on his way to work in the high lakes area at the time of the crash. They also determined the crash occurred just minutes before the off-duty deputy arrived on the scene.

The sheriff’s office said they were assisted by Oregon state Police, the Deschutes County Road Department, Sunriver Police Department and La Pine Rural Fire District.

Due to the crash investigation, which is continuing, South Century Drive was closed for about three hours between Bonanza Lane and Big River Drive.