OSP IDs Eugene boy, 11, killed in Century Drive crash
(Update: OSP releases names in crash; father in fair condition)
An 11-year-old Eugene boy suffered fatal injuries and his father and older brother were injured Thursday morning when their SUV slid into the path of an oncoming van and they collided on Century Drive near the entrance to Mt. Bachelor, Oregon State Police reported.
OSP troopers, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies and Bend Fire medics responded to the crash, reported around 10:20 a.m. near the entrance to the Sunrise Lodge at the ski and snowboard resort. The collision occurred near milepost 21 on the road also known as the Cascade Lakes Highway and state Highway 372, said OSP Lt. Mark Duncan.
A preliminary investigation found that a gray 2002 Suzuki SUV occupied by the three family members was heading west when the driver, Alden Taylor, 39, of Eugene, lost control on the snow- and ice-covered roadway, Duncan said. The SUV crossed into the path of a white 2005 Chevy Express van.
Taylor was seriously injured in the crash and firefighters had to cut away the wreckage to free him, Duncan said.
His 11-year-old son, Elijah Taylor, was critically injured and, despite life-saving efforts at the scene, died on the way to the hospital, the lieutenant said. The boy’s 16-year-old brother, Quinlan Taylor, sustained “moderate injuries,” according to Duncan.
The surviving father and son were taken by ambulance to St. Charles Bend, as was the van driver, Stephen Richardson, 60, of Bend, who Duncan said sustained minor injuries.
Alden Taylor was in fair condition Friday morning at the Bend hospital, a spokeswoman said; the hospital doesn’t provide condition for minors.
OSP was assisted at the scene by ODOT, the sheriff’s office, Mt. Bachelor Ski Patrol, AirLink, Bend Fire & Rescue, the Sunriver Fire Department “and numerous good Samaritans,” Duncan said.
The highway to the ski resort was closed for several hours while an OSP crash reconstructionist investigated the scene and the vehicles were removed.
An off-duty Bend firefighter-medic reportedly rendered early first aid at the crash scene. An AirLink helicopter was sent but unable to get to the crash site due to the heavy snow and instead landed at nearby Wanoga Sno-Park.
Deschutes County 911 dispatchers reported one lane reopened shortly after noon to downhill traffic out of the resort. But it took until about 2:30 p.m. for the crash investigation to be completed and the westbound lanes to the resort to reopen.
