Bend teen killed, 2nd critically hurt in NE Ninth Street crash
An 18-year-old Bend driver was killed and his 19-year-old passenger was critically injured early Saturday in a high-speed crash into a tree along Northeast Ninth Street near Bend High School, police said.
Police and fire medics responded around 3:50 a.m. to the reported crash on Ninth Street between Emerson and Alden avenues, said Lt. Clint Burleigh. A motorist in the area called 911 to report the crash and provided initial information to Deschutes County dispatchers.
Officers arrived on scene and began providing medical care while relaying initial information to fire personnel on the way.
The driver, Daniel Bazan, was pronounced dead at the crash scene. The passenger, Jason Soto, 19, was taken by ambulance to St. Charles Bend, where he was listed in critical condition, Burleigh said.
An initial investigation determined Bazan’s blue 1997 Plymouth Neon was heading north on Ninth Street at a high rate of speed when it left the road and struck a tree, the lieutenant said.
Bend police crash reconstructionists responded to the scene and are continuing to investigate the incident, Burleigh said. Ninth Street was closed for more than five hours during the investigation.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation was urged to contact Bend police through Deschutes County non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911.
