DCSO speaks with SUV driver who damaged gate while leaving Pine Nursery Park

(Update: DCSO finds SUV, 'no longer of interest')

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said early Monday they have found and are no longer seeking information from the public to find the driver of an SUV who they earlier said had crashed through and damaged a gate while leaving Pine Nursery Park in northeast Bend on New Year’s night.

"The driver and the vehicle in this case have been located and identified. They are no longer of interest," Lt. Bryan Husband said, with no further initial explanation.

Deputies were dispatched shortly after 10 a.m. to the park on NE Purcell Avenue on a report of criminal mischief and hit-and-run with property damage, Husband had said in a news release Sunday night.

Husband explained Monday that the driver and their parent contacted the sheriff's office Sunday night after seeing news reports about the agency's request for information.

"They told us they didn't realize they needed to report the crash to law enforcement and planned on contacting Bend Parks and Rec today to exchange insurance info," he said.

Husband said deputies took their statements and will be forwarding reports to the DA's office for review of any potential charges.

An employee with Bend Patrol Services had been closing the park gates for the night and having the last few vehicles leave out of the north entrance/exit, Husband said.

However, he said, at least two vehicles that had been in the park before closing deliberately left from the west exit, with one crashing into the park gate in the process, causing extensive damage to the gate and the vehicle, the lieutenant said.

Parts of the suspect vehicle found at the scene, including parts of the front fender and headlight-fog light assembly, helped deputies identify it as a white 2021-22 Subaru Crosstrek, Husband said. The other vehicle traveling with it was described as a dark blue four-door sedan.

Neither vehicle stopped to self-report the crash, as required by state law, Husband said.