OSP IDs victim in fatal Hwy. 97 head-on crash

(Update: Drivers’ names released; speed, alcohol believed to be factors)

Oregon State Police on Monday identified a 39-year-old Bend man who was killed and another driver seriously injured in a head-on crash on Highway 97 north of Bend early Sunday.

OSP responded around 3:30 a.m. Sunday to the crash near milepost 132, about two miles north of Bend, Sgt. Kaipo Raiser said.

A preliminary investigation found a 2005 Ford Explorer driven by Megan Rose Handford, 19, of Bend, was heading south and was struck head-on in the southbound lane by a 2017 GMC pickup truck heading north, driven by Justin David Dice, 39, Raiser said.

Dice died at the scene, Raiser said. Handford was flown to St. Charles Bend with life-threatening injuries and was reported in surgery late Sunday morning.

The two drivers were alone in their vehicles, the sergeant added.

OSP Lt. Mark Duncan said Monday that speed and alcohol are believed to be contributing factors in the crash.

OSP was assisted at the scene by the Bend Fire Department, ODOT and the Deschutes County medical examiner and district attorney’s offices.

Raiser said more information will be released as available.

ODOT reported the road was closed for a time, then opened to one lane in each direction and fully reopened by around 9:30 a.m.