Oregon State Police reported a two-vehicle crash on Highway 97 at Vandervert Road in Deschutes County early Thursday. Preliminary investigation revealed at 1:05 a.m., a westbound Dodge Caravan, operated by Sherri Wood, 46 of Lyons failed to stop when entering Hwy 97 from Vandervert Road. The Dodge Caravan struck the drivers side a northbound commercial motor vehicle operated by Abelardo Eleneshiguera, 54 of Bakersfield, CA. The commercial motor vehicle caught fire and was fully engulfed and burned beyond recognition.
A passenger in the Dodge Caravan, Robert Owens, 56 of Seaside was pronounced deceased. Wood was transported via air ambulance to St. Charles with life threatening injuries. Eleneshiguera escaped the burning CMV and was uninjured.
OSP was assisted by ODOT, Deschutes County SO, Bend, Lapine and Sun River Fire Rescue.
