Sisters man involved in fiery wreck

Donovan A. Ryan, 36, of Sisters, was rescued from a fiery wreck on Cline Falls Road on Friday, March 10, after his 1994 Jeep Wrangler allegedly crossed the center line and struck an oncoming vehicle.

Ryan escaped serious injury and the other driver suffered only minor injuries.

According to a Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office release, deputies responded around 10:40 p.m. to a 911 call regarding a possible DUII driver northbound on Cline Falls Road from Tumalo. Deschutes County Sheriff’s Deputies and a trooper from the Oregon State Police were enroute to locate the vehicle. Private citizens were following Ryan’s Jeep giving location updates as deputies were responding.

According to the sheriff’s office, just before deputies arrived on scene, Ryan’s Jeep crossed the center line and struck 25-year-old Rachel Elledge’s 1987 full size Chevy Blazer as she was traveling south on Cline Falls Road approaching Innes Market Road.

Elledge, a Bend resident, tried to avoid the collision but Ryan struck the left front and left side of Elledge’s Blazer causing significant damage to both vehicles, the sheriff’s office reported.

Ryan’s Jeep caught fire almost immediately; Ryan was semi-conscious and not responsive to persons on scene, the sheriff’s office reported.

“A Deschutes County Sheriff’s Deputy and several citizens on scene removed Ryan from the burning Jeep exposing themselves to significant danger as they did so and certainly saving Ryan from sustaining serious injury or death,” the sheriff’s office release stated.

Bend Fire arrived and treated Elledge at the scene for minor injuries. Ryan was transported to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend with non-life threatening injuries.

A medical condition combined with alcohol may have been factors in the crash, according to the sheriff’s office.