Non-sworn Bend PD staff member charged with DUII in Bend Parkway crash
(Update: Driver charged with DUII in crash)
Third vehicle, a black pickup, seen stopping, then leaving
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A non-sworn staff member of the Bend Police Department, hospitalized after a two-vehicle crash on the Bend Parkway late Friday night, has been arrested by citation on a DUII charge, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said Saturday night.
Oregon State Police troopers, Bend police and fire medics responded around 11 p.m. Friday to the crash on Highway 97 near milepost 141, OSP Captain Tim Fox said.
A preliminary investigation found that a Subaru Legacy driven by a 25-year-old Bend man was heading south and collided with a southbound Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by a 45-year-old Bend woman.
Both drivers and two passengers in the Jeep, from California and Idaho, were taken to St. Charles Bend. A hospital house supervisor said the Subaru driver was treated and released and the Jeep driver was listed in good condition Saturday. She said the two passengers were not listed in the hospital’s patient directory.
Once Bend police were on scene to render aid, it was learned the 44-year-old woman is a non-sworn staff member of Bend police, sheriff’s Lt. Don Manning said.
It was believed she may be impaired, so the investigation immediately was turned over to OSP and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Manning said. The sheriff’s office arrested her by citation on a DUII-alcohol charge at the hospital.
The crash is being investigated by OSP. Manning said Bend police will conduct an internal affairs investigation to determine if the staff member violated any department policies.
The crash and investigation shut down the southbound lanes of the parkway for a time, and a detour was put in place.
Fox said OSP received information that a black pickup truck was in the area at the time of the crash and stopped at the scene, but left before first responders arrived, continuing south on Highway 97.
OSP would like to talk to occupants of the pickup, Fox said. Anyone who witnessed the crash or any of the events involving the pickup was asked to call OSP at 1-800-442-0776 and leave information for Sergeant Caleb Ratliff, in reference to Case No. SP21-099724.
