Trucks collide near BBR

A Black Butte Ranch fire truck was struck broadside as it was making a U-turn across Highway 20 west of Sisters on Thursday, April 3.

According to the Deschutes County Sheriff's Department, the small "brush" fire truck had been traveling up and down the highway, assisting the Forest Service in monitoring a controlled burn near Bl

ack Butte Ranch.

Heading east along the highway with its overhead lights on about 3/4-mile from the ranch entrance, the fire truck signaled to make a left U-turn to travel back to the west, according to sheriff's deputies. The driver, Darryl Berney, pulled toward the fog line on the right to gain a wider arc for the turn then began to cross back over the highway.

The fire truck was struck on its left rear quarter by a large pickup truck driven by Randy Bishop of Junction City and owned by Suburban Propane of Eugene, according to the sheriff's department.

"The truck that was behind the fire truck thought the fire truck was pulling off to the right to stop. He was going to pass the fire truck without leaving his travel lane," said the deputy investigating the accident.

No citations were issued although the accident is still under investigation.

Speeds were slow enough that no one was injured, although because of the mass of the vehicles involved, damage was extensive, according to the deputy.

According to Black Butte Fire Chief Darell Churchill, the brush truck sustained about $3,500 damage to the utility box and bumper.