Rough week on Highway 20

A pair of serious accidents sent people to the hospital and blocked Highway 20 last week.

Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers are continuing the investigation into a four-vehicle minor-injury crash Thursday afternoon on Highway 20 about 10 miles north of Sisters. Two people were transported in the crash that completely blocked the highway for about 90 minutes.

According to OSP Trooper Bob Olson, on October 14 at approximately 5:13 p.m., a 1997 Buick LeSabre driven by Sandra Kay Boehme, 66, from Corvallis, was eastbound on Highway 20 near milepost 91 when it traveled across the centerline and struck the rear side of a westbound 2001 Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by William L. Francis, 77, from Bend.

The Buick rolled multiple times as it continued east and collided with a westbound 1999 Ford Explorer driven by Wanda L. Nelson, 53, from Terrebonne. A westbound 2006 Subaru driven by Jack L. Ward, 64, from Sherwood, rear-ended the Chevrolet Silverado as both vehicles were coming to a stop following the initial collision.

The Buick came to an uncontrolled rest on its top on the highway.

Boehme and Francis were transported by Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend with minor injuries.

Nelson and Ward were not injured.

Black Butte Police Department, Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, ODOT and off-duty Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin assisted at the scene.

A 49-year-old Bend woman was seriously hurt when she crashed into a tree along Highway 20 near the Cold Springs cutoff on Tuesday.

According to Deschutes County Sheriff's Office reports, Kimberly Connor was travelling eastbound on Highway 20. Her 1997 Honda Civic drifted across the westbound lane of travel onto the dirt shoulder. The vehicle hit a large tree and came to rest. There was extensive damage to the vehicle. A small dog that was riding in the car died as a result of this crash.

Conner was entrapped in the vehicle and rescuers removed the roof so that she could be extricated. Conner was then transported to by AirLink to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend with serious injuries.

Both lanes of Highway 20 were closed for approximately 45 minutes. No other vehicles were involved in the crash. The cause of this crash is still under investigation by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office.