Driver charged with DUII after crashing pickup into SW Redmond home
Residents, including young child, unhurt
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A Redmond woman was arrested by citation on drunken driving and other charges after her pickup truck crashed into the front of a southwest Redmond house where a young child was sleeping late Saturday night, police said.
Police and fire personnel were dispatched shortly before 11:30 p.m. on a report of a vehicle crashing into the front of a home in the 2700 block of Southwest 50th Street, Lt. Curtis Chambers said.
The residents called Deschutes County 911 dispatchers and left the home with their 8-month-old child as a safety precaution, he said.
Police say the 39-year-old driver sustained minor injuries, likely from airbag deployment, and was evaluated by medics at the scene. A male passenger was unhurt, Chambers said.
Redmond fire personnel examined the home and determined it was not at risk of collapse, despite significant damage, so the residents were able to return to the home for the night, Chambers said.
An investigation determined the driver of the Ford pickup was heading north on 50th Street when she crossed the center of the road and struck a parked SUV on the south side of the street, Chambers said.
That sent the pickup careening into the front yard of a home, then hitting the home outside two rooms, one where a young child was sleeping. The child was unhurt, Chambers said.
The woman was arrested at the scene on charges of DUII-alcohol, recklessly endangering, reckless driving and second-degree criminal mischief. Chambers said she was driven to the police department, issued a criminal citation to appear in court and released.
"Driving under the influence of intoxicants is illegal, dangerous and responsible for approximately 30% of fatal crashes yearly," Chambers said in a news release.
"It is extremely fortunate this DUII-related crash did not result in the death of an innocent child," he wrote.
"The Redmond Police Department pleads with everyone to not drive after becoming impaired by alcohol, marijuana, or any other substance. The state of Oregon has some of the most stringent DUII laws in the country, yet incidents such as this still play out in Oregon nearly every day. "
