OSP: Hwy. 20 driver falls asleep, hits tree near BBR

(Update: OSP says driver of pickup fell asleep; 2 passengers had minor injuries)

The driver of an extended-cab pickup truck fell asleep at the wheel and drove through the oncoming lane and off the road on U.S. Highway 20 west of Black Butte Ranch Wednesday morning, hitting a tree and injuring two passengers, Oregon State Police reported.

The crash occurred shortly after 10 a.m. when the driver of a westbound Toyota pickup, Zachary Hoffer, 18, of Yucaipa, Calif., fell asleep, drove through the oncoming lane and went off the road, striking a tree head-on, Capt. Timothy Fox said.

Two passengers were taken by ambulance to St. Charles Bend with minor injuries, Fox said.

The crash occurred about five miles east of Suttle Lake, according to ODOT’s TripCheck page, which reported traffic delays of less than 20 minutes in the area about an hour later.

A Life Flight helicopter had been placed on standby but was determined not to be needed, Fox added.