Bend-area woman charged with manslaughter in fatal crash

A 26-year-old Bend-area woman has been indicted on manslaughter, DUII and assault charges in connection with a single-vehicle crash last March that killed a Powell Butte man.

Samantha Toews, 26, also was seriously injured in the crash the evening of March 5 on the Powell Butte Highway east of Bend, when their SUV left the road and flipped several times, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said at the time.

Deputies said Toews was at the wheel of her 2006 Hyundai Tucson, heading west when she failed to make a right-hand curve before the intersection with McGrath Road. crossed the oncoming lane, left the road and rolled several times, Sgt. William Bailey said.

Toews, who was wearing a seat belt, suffered significant injuries. Her front-seat passenger, Jason House, 36, of Powell Butte, was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the SUV deputies said.

The sergeant said a 9-year-old Powell Butte girl who was riding in the back seat behind the driver was wearing her seat belt and sustained minor injuries, the sergeant said.

Bend Fire Department medics rushed all three occupants to St. Charles Bend, where House was pronounced dead from his injuries.

Bailey said at the time that speed was a factor in the crash, as well as intoxicants.

Toews, with a listed address on the Powell Butte Highway, was indicted last month on charges of second-degree manslaughter, fourth-degree assault and DUII. The indictment alleges she was driving “under the influence of (a) controlled substance.”

A bench warrant was issued for her arrest last week, court records show. Toews was booked into the Deschutes County Jail around noon on Wednesday and released about a half-hour later, after posting 10 percent of her $100,000 bail, a jail spokeswoman said. She is scheduled to appear in court on the charges on Jan. 17 at 9 a.m.