Bend man arrested, jailed on manslaughter, DUII charges in rollover crash last fall that killed La Pine man
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A 24-year-old Bend man was arrested and jailed Saturday evening on first-degree manslaughter, DUII and assault charges in a rollover crash last fall in southeast Bend that claimed the life of a 23-year-old La Pine man and injured a Redmond woman also riding in the car.
Bryce Tanner Lupton was lodged Saturday evening in the Deschutes County jail after his arrest by sheriff’s deputies, on first-degree manslaughter, DUII and second-degree assault charges, jail records showed. He is being held on $150,000 bail, pending arraignment on the charges.
District Attorney Steve Gunnels confirmed to NewsChannel 21 Sunday evening that Lupton's arrest was on charges stemming from the fatal crash nearly five months ago.
Around 11:40 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23 of last year, Lupton, 23 at the time, was heading south on Southeast 15th Street, just south of Bear Creek Road, when his 2012 Ford Focus left the roadway and rolled, Lieutenant Brian Beekman said.
A passenger, Jacobic Lee Barnhill of La Pine, was killed in the crash, while Lupton and a second passenger, a 22-year-old Redmond woman, were removed from the car by Bend Fire personnel and taken to St. Charles Bend for treatment.
“Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in this crash,” Beekman said in a news release the next day, while also asking that any witnesses to contact police.
The crash and a reconstruction team’s work closed 15th Street in the area until 6 a.m. the next morning.
Oregon court records show one previous entry for Lupton. He pleaded no contest in October 2018 to a Class A violation of careless driving contributing to an accident, and was fined $225.
