Bend woman seriously hurt in Highway 97 crash

Two Bend women were injured, one seriously, Friday morning when one driver turned in front of another on Highway 97 at the entrance to Cascade Village Mall, police said.

Police were dispatched around 5:45 a.m. to the reported injury crash on the highway near Nels Anderson Place, Lt. Juli McConkey said. Bend Fire medics responded and took both drivers to St. Charles Bend.

An initial investigation shows a Subaru Forester driven by Rita Pedraza , 64, was heading south on the highway when the driver of a northbound Toyota Rav4, Janine Mosetick , 87, turned left in front of Pedraza’s SUV, attempting to turn into the mall, McConkey said.

Pedraza was listed in serious condition at the hospital Friday afternoon and Mosetick was not in the patient directory, spokeswoman Lisa Goodman said.

The crash remains under investigation, McConkey said. Police are asking any witnesses to contact non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911.