Pickup seized in Old Bend-Redmond Hwy. hit-and-run

(Update: Pickup seized; person of interest identified)

Tips from the community led to the seizure of a white Dodge pickup truck believed to have been involved in a recent hit-and-run incident on the Old Bend-Redmond Highway that sent a Redmond man to the hospital, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said Tuesday.

Lt. Mike Biondi said a male person of interest has been identified as detectives continue to gather information and evidence in the June 22 collision with a blue 2010 Subaru WRX, Lt. Mike Biondi said.

No further information about the investigation was released, but Biondi added, “We would like to thank those members of the community who came forward and shared information with us.”

Deputies and Redmond Fire medics were dispatched around 7:20 p.m. Friday, June 22 to the reported crash on the Old Bend-Redmond Highway near Southwest Young Avenue, Biondi said.

Deputies arrived to find a blue 2010 Subaru WRX partially blocking the southbound lane. The driver, Alberto Hernandez, 26, of Redmond, was taken to St. Charles Redmond with non-life-threatening injuries.

An investigation determined that the Subaru and a white Dodge full-size four-door (extended cab) pickup were both heading north, Biondi said.

Hernandez was following the Dodge pickup and passed it. Shortly after he completed the pass, the pickup struck the right rear of Hernandez’s car, causing him to lose control, skid off the road and hit a juniper tree. The pickup driver then left the scene, Biondi said.

The sheriff’s office sought the public’s help in finding the pickup, described as having a black bumper, silver rims and a “headache rack” (a steel or aluminum rack that mounts behind a pickup’s cab to secure items to). Biondi said it likely has been lifted and has approximately 35-inch tires. It also likely has moderate damage to the left front fender/bumper and possibly has blue paint transfer from the crash.

Anyone who might have witnessed the crash or has information regarding the driver of the pickup was urged to contact non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911.

The crash reduced the highway to a single lane of travel for about 90 minutes, Biondi said.