Couple badly hurt in Sisters wreck

An Oregon State Police trooper was parked along Highway 20 west of Sisters on Thursday, October 21, at about 10:20 a.m., when he saw a vehicle crash into a tree a short distance away.

The trooper and an off-duty paramedic arrived on scene about the same time and noted the driver was not breathing and had no pulse. They freed the driver, who was later identified as Dana Leroy Niehaus, age 66, of Santa Cruz, California, and began CPR on him. The trooper and the off-duty paramedic performed CPR for 10 minutes on Niehaus before Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire personnel arrived. The fire personnel continued CPR and transported the injured man to St. Charles in Bend.

The passenger, Jeannine C. Niehaus, age 66, also of Santa Cruz, was extricated from the vehicle and taken to St. Charles with serious injuries.

Preliminary investigation revealed a 2008 Audi sedan was traveling westbound on Highway 20 near milepost 98 (west of Sisters) when it drifted off the roadway and struck a large tree. It is believe Dana Niehaus had suffered a medical issue and lost consciousness.

At the time of this release, Dana and Jeannine Niehaus are in stable condition at the hospital.

OSP was assisted by the Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Oregon Department of Transportation and Black Butte Police Department.