Man arrested running roadblock

It's not enough that the asphalt is hot, the machinery could crush a worker in a moment and drivers frequently aren't watching where they are going.

On April 17 while Oregon Department of Transportation crews were repaving the highway west of Sisters a driver allegedly under the influence decided to barrel through the work zone and had flaggers jumping for the ditches.

At about 11 a.m. Kenneth Michael Herrmann of Michigan, age 35, allegedly decided to ignore warning signs, pilot cars and flaggers and take his red pick- up through the work zone. Herrmann passed waiting vehicles on the shoulder, narrowly missed a pavement roller, oiling truck and several workers as he sped through the area, according to ODOT.

Crew members used their radios each warn each other of the driver's approach, giving flagger Joe Martin a chance to drop his stop sign and head for the ditch as the truck came barring down on him, according to ODOT.

ODOT Maintenance Manager Dave Neys had arrived at the work zone to review paving progress. Neys decided to follow the red pick- up while he contacted the Oregon State Police on his truck radio.

"I thought I would just follow him and see where he was going," Neys said. "As went through Sisters I thought I was going to lose him because I don't drive fast through that town. He got up to 70 MPH or so after he left Sisters, but for the most part he kept it to 45-55 MPH."

Nays followed the vehicle east on Highway 20 toward Bend, while telling Trooper Joseph Craig the vehicle's location. When Herrmann spotted the waiting patrol car after climbing the hill out of Tumalo, he turned right off the highway onto O. B. Riley road, headed back down toward the state park near Tumalo.

With Neys and Trooper Craig following slowly behind Herrmann was eventually apprehended near Bend Aggregate and Paving.

Herrmann was arrested and charged with two counts of reckless driving and possession of amphetamines (10.5 grams). He was also cited for having less than one ounce of marijuana, driving with no operator's license, driving uninsured, driving under the influence and an expired vehicle registration.

Citations in work zones can carry twice the regular fine.

Herrmann remains in Deschutes County Jail with bail set at $5,000.

His next court date is April 25 at 2:30 p.m.