OSP: Bend man, Idaho girl killed in Hwy. 97 crash S. of La Pine
A Bend man who witnesses said earlier was speeding and making illegal passes struck another car head-on on Highway 97 south of La Pine Sunday night, killing himself and a 10-year-old Idaho girl in the other car, Oregon State Police said Monday.
The girl’s parents also were seriously injured, while her brother had minor injuries, troopers said.
Deschutes County dispatchers got the first report of the crash around 8:25 at milepost 171, a mile south of the Highway 31 junction, said OSP Capt. Bill Fugate
A preliminary investigation found that Alan James Eutsler, 29, of Bend, was at the wheel of a 1991 Lexus heading north on the highway when his car crossed the center line and collided head-on with a southbound 2016 Ford Fusion driven by Donald R. Adams, 45, of Rathdrum, Idaho, Fugate said.
Eutsler was pronounced dead at the scene, as was Adams’ 10-year-old daughter, the captain said.
Donald Adams and his wife, Barbara Adams, 30, were flown by air ambulances to St. Charles Bend with life-threatening injuries, Fugate said. A hospital spokeswoman said Donald Adams was in critical condition Monday afternoon and his wife had improved to fair condition.
The couple’s 8-year-old son was taken by ground ambulance to the Bend hospital for treatment of minor injuries, Fugate said.
La Pine Fire officials said both cars were heavily damaged, and drivers and passengers were pinned in their vehicles until they were removed by firefighters and prepared for transport. They were assisted at the scene by Sunriver and Crescent fire medics.
Based on statements from witnesses’ prior observations of the car, Fugate said “speed and unlawful passing by Eutsler are being considered as the leading factors in the crash.” He said the investigation is continuing and more information will be released as available.
The crash and investigation closed Highway 97 for more than four hours. OSP was assisted at the scene by La Pine Rural Fire District medics, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies, the Oregon Department of Transportation, AirLink and Life Flight.
