OSP: Redmond woman has died of Hwy. 97 crash injuries

(Update: OSP says Redmond woman died of injuries; crash still under investigation)

Oregon State police confirmed Wednesday that a 75-year-old Redmond woman died Saturday, two days after a truck hauling gravel rear-ended her slowing car on Highway 97 just north of Bend.

Around 11:45 a.m. last Thursday, Anita Johnson’s four-door Ford Edge was slowing for another vehicle ahead in the southbound slow (right-hand) lane when a 1994 Kenworth tractor-trailer with a trailer loaded with gravel rear-ended the car, OSP Captain Tim Fox said.

The car left the road and collided with a tree, Fox said. The truck, driven by a 28-year-old Aumsville woman, came to rest after the crash partially blocking the right southbound lane and shoulder.

Johnson sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken by ambulance to St. Charles Bend. The truck driver had minor injuries.

The crash remains under investigation, Fox said Wednesday.

The crash investigation closed three lanes and diverted traffic to a single lane of travel in each direction for about four hours.