The driver of a semi-truck pulling a 53-foot trailer, allegedly under the influence of drugs, crashed into a utility pole cutting off power to an east Bend home, then sped away, leading police on a chase and nearly colliding head-on with several vehicles when she turned into oncoming traffic.
The incident began shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday, December 6, when sheriff’s deputies, assisted by Bend Police, responded to a report of an accident at 61371 Ward Road in east Bend.
According to Sgt. Gary Cima with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, the operator apparently drove the semi, a 2003 Freightliner pulling a 53-foot trailer, into the driveway of the property, and when exiting slammed into a power pole -– instantly cutting off power to the residence.
Teresa Horney, DCJ Photo
The driver ignored the police car’s emergency lights and sirens and sped off, driving west on Stevens Road, Sgt. Cima wrote in a news release. Reaching 27th Street, she turned south and sped off again, turning into oncoming traffic and nearly colliding head-on with oncoming vehicles.
The semi came to an abrupt stop at the intersection of 27th Street and Ferguson Road, and the driver -– identified as Teresa Horney, a 36-year old resident of North Las Vegas, Nevada -- was taken into custody, said the sergeant.
Horney was lodged in the Deshutes County Jail on $25,000 bail, pending arraignment on various charges including driving under the influence (drugs), possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), failing to perform the duties of a driver involved in a motor vehicle accident, first-degree criminal mischief, recklessly endangering another person, and numerous traffic violations.