Terrebonne power-pole crash hit-and-run suspect charged

(Update with charges, suspect info)

A Redmond man was charged late Monday with first-degree criminal mischief and hit-and-run for running into a fence and power pole in Terrebonne Sunday, causing an area power outage, then leaving the scene, authorities said.

Deschutes County sheriff’s Sgt. Kevin Disney said David Peebles, 23, told deputies he’d gone to talk to the fence owner at NW 31st Street and Sedgewick Avenue after work Monday.

Peebles said the fence owner told him about the power poles (two were damaged) and the resulting outage.

A witness said the driver had gotten out of the pickup truck to move the wires before leaving, but Peebles said he was unaware of the other damage, Dizney said.

Upon learning of it, Peebles went to the sheriff’s office “to answer to the rest of it,” Dizney said.

Deputies charged him with the criminal mischief, a Class C felony, for damaging a public utility, and failure to perform the duties of a driver.

The passenger-side damage to his gray Chevy Silverado crew-cab pickup matched what happened at the scene, Dizney said.

As for what happened, the sergeant said Peebles told them he didn’t see the stop sign and missed it. He was cited on the charges and released, as he had no criminal history, Dizney said.

Pacific Power spokesman Ry Schwark said Sunday night about 60 customers initially lost power in the area, and 51 remained in the dark a few hours later. Repairs were expected to completed overnight.

As for the reported actions of the driver, Schwark said “He’s extremely lucky the fuses blew — they don’t always blow. He could have been killed.”