Bend man dies in crash near Sisters

Matthew Devin Burns, 36, of Bend, died Wednesday evening when his 1991 Toyota 4Runner went off the road on Highway 20 and struck a tree.

According to Deschutes County Sheriff's Office reports, emergency personnel responded to a report of a crash on Highway 20 3.5 miles west of Sisters at 5:34 p.m.

The driver of the vehicle, Matthew Devin Burns, was trapped in the vehicle and needed to be extricated by fire personnel. Fire personnel immediately began treating Burns for his injuries.

During the extrication process, Burns was pronounced dead, due to injuries sustained from the crash.

According to the sheriff's office, Burns had been traveling eastbound on Highway 20, toward Sisters. For unknown reasons, Burns' vehicle drove off the highway and onto the eastbound gravel shoulder. He then steered the vehicle back onto the roadway and crossed the entire width of Highway 20 and drove off the north side.

Burns' vehicle then went off road about 60 feet, where it struck a large ponderosa pine tree. The vehicle impacted the tree with its driver's side door, causing the fatal injury to Burns. No other vehicles were involved in the crash and no other vehicles contributed to this crash.

Alcohol does not appear to be involved and it is unknown if driver fatigue or sudden illness may have been contributing factors to the crash. The investigation is continuing.