Rosburg woman charged in Hwy. 97 head-on DUII crash in La Pine; both drivers injured
(Update: Driver charged with DUII in crash)
La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) – A Roseburg woman faces drunken and reckless driving, assault and other charges after she drove into oncoming traffic on U.S. Highway 97 in La Pine and struck a pickup truck head-on Tuesday evening, sending both drivers to St. Charles Bend, Oregon State Police reported.
The crash was reported around 5:30 p.m. near milepost 169 on the highway, north of Jackpine Loop. The crash and investigation closed the highway for over two hours.
Troopers said a 50-year-old Roseburg woman drove a Kia Soul into oncoming traffic and collided with a Ford F-150 pickup head-on. An air ambulance flew one of the injured drivers to the Bend hospital.
According to OSP’s report, medics mentioned that the woman “reeked of alcohol” and her blood draw at the hospital showed a .24 blood-alcohol content, three times Oregon’s legal limit. A search warrant was requested and issued.
The woman was arrested by citation on charges of DUII-alcohol, reckless driving, third-degree assault (DUII), recklessly endangering a person and first-degree criminal mischief.
Both vehicles were heavily damaged and were towed by Blue-Line Towing of La Pine to their lot.