Two killed, 3 seriously hurt in Crook County rollover crash

(Update: victim’s mother sets up GoFundMe page)

Two young men died and three other people were seriously injured early Saturday morning when their car left a rural road south of Prineville and flipped several times, throwing all of them to the ground, Crook County sheriff’s deputies said.

None are believed to have been wearing seat belts, according to deputies, who said alcohol and speed are believed to be factors in the crash.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Bill Elliott identified the two fatalities late Saturday afternoon, after family notifications, as Stephan Leader-Bowles, 21, of Madras, and Caleb Williams, 23, of Prineville. The names of the three injured — which includes the car’s driver — were being withheld.

Deputies and Oregon State Police were dispatched at 2:22 a.m. to the reported crash on Southwest Reservoir Road near milepost 4, about 20 miles southwest of Prineville and 20 miles east of Bend, said Undersheriff James Savage.

Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies also responded, along with Crook County and Bend fire medics and the Crook County Road Department.

Elliott said police performed life-saving measures on the three injured and found two others who had died at the scene.

An investigation determined that the five people were in a 1987 Nissan Maxima that was heading west on Reservoir Road when the driver lost control while trying to negotiate a corner, Elliott said. The car left the road, rolling several times, and all five occupants were ejected. It’s believed none of the occupants were wearing their seat belts, he added.

The three injured people were taken to St. Charles Bend with serious injuries, two by helicopter and one by ambulance, Savage said.

The crash investigation closed Reservoir Road until around 12:30 p.m.

Leader-Bowles’ mother has set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses, at https://www.gofundme.com/memorial-for-stephan-leaderbowles