Drugged driver cited after slamming SUV into Tumalo Fire Station, causing substantial damage

(Update: More information from Bend Fire; building can be occupied)

TUMALO, Ore. (KTVZ) – An alleged drugged driver slammed into the Tumalo Fire Station on Cook Avenue late Wednesday night, causing substantial damage, and was cited for DUII and first-degree criminal mischief, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

The crash was reported around 11:15 p.m. and arriving deputies found a 2003 Ford Explorer with heavy front-end damage and substantial damage to the fire station, Sergeant Jayson Janes said.

Deputies determined the driver, a 46-year-old Crooked River Ranch man, was driving under the influence of intoxicants (drugs), Janes said.

The driver was taken into custody without incident and later issued a criminal citation to appear in court on charges of DUII-drugs and first-degree criminal mischief.

No injuries were reported.

Bend Fire & Rescue provided more details in a news release Thursday afternoon:

Firefighters were awakened by a loud crash which shook the two-story Station 302 at 64725 Cook Avenue in Tumalo. There were three firefighters on-duty and in the fire station at the time of the accident. Crews quickly discovered the accident and immediately began rendering aid to the male driver and female passenger of the Ford Explorer.

Both the driver and passenger denied injury and refused any further medical treatment or ambulance transportation. There were no injuries to any of the on-duty firefighters. 

Bend Fire Chief Todd Riley and Fire Marshal Jason Bolen were at the site on Thursday morning to evaluate the damage and determine if the building was structurally sound.

The vehicle significantly damaged the exterior wall of the station and intruded into the building 3-4 feet before coming to rest outside of the structure, spraying brick, sheet rock and broken glass throughout the fire station exercise room.

A City of Bend Structural Engineer surveyed the damage and determined that while there was heavy damage to the façade of the fire station, it was still structurally stable and able to remain occupied and in service. 

Bend firefighters were spending the day cleaning up the debris from the crash before securing the structure from both the elements and unauthorized entry. The fire station will remain open and fully staffed during the repair phase, of which there is no known time frame.

“I’m grateful that there were no injuries to the passengers of the vehicle or to any of our firefighters.” said Fire Chief Todd Riley. “Our plan is to keep Station 302 open while we make the necessary repairs so that our citizens in Tumalo will maintain the same high level of service and protection that they are used to having.” 

Damage to the structure is initially estimated to be in the $100,000 to $150,000 range, and while the fire department carries insurance, it is unknown if the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash was insured. 

Bolen told NewsChannel 21 at the scene Thursday morning that the damage happened to the wall of a first-floor gym workout room, below the second-floor sleeping quarters at the fire station, which opened in December of 2019.