Vancouver woman cited for texting and driving, causing Bend Parkway crash

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A Vancouver, Washington woman was cited for texting while driving on the Bend Parkway on Thursday after her pickup truck struck another while passing, then crossed the median and struck
an SUV, police reported.

Officers responded around 9:20 a.m. to the reported injury crash on the northbound parkway near Lafayette Avenue, Lt. Juli McConkey said.

An investigation determined that Latasha Fodder, 32, was driving a 2008 Chevy Silverado heading south on the parkway in the "slow" (right) lane."

A Redmond man was driving a 2008 Ford F-250 in the left (fast) lane, McConkey said, and as she passed the pickup and tried to get into the left lane, the left rear side of her truck struck the right front side of the F-250, McConkey said.

Fodder's pickup then crossed over the center median and into the northbound lanes, where her truck collided with a 2011 Subaru Outback driven by a Bend woman, Karen Lester, 64, the liuetenant said.

Lester was taken to St. Charles Bend for treatment, while Fodder was treated for minor injuries at the scene by Bend Fire & Rescue.

McConkey said it was determined Fodder caused the crash by texting and driving. She was arrested by citation on charges of reckless driving and third-degree assault.

One lane in each direction remained open on the parkway during the investigation, but northbound traffic still experienced a significant backup. All of the lanes were open again in about 45 minutes.