Four injured in Hwy. 97 crash south of Redmond

Oct 29,2007 00:00 by Bend_Weekly_News_Sources

One person was critically injured and four others, including three children, received minor injuries in a two vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 97 and Gift Road Friday afternoon, Oregon State Police (OSP) reported.

Photographs (above & below) of Friday's accident on Highway 97 that sent four people - including three children - to the hospital were provided by OSP.

Shortly after 5:30 p.m. on October 26, a Saturn four-door passenger car driven by Ashley Thomas, 21, from Redmond, was attempting to cross Highway 97 on Gift Road from the east to the west when it pulled across the path of a southbound Dodge pickup driven by Kimberly Ristoff. Ristoff, a 27-year old Redmond resident, attempted to avoid the Saturn but collided with its passenger side. After impact the Dodge pickup left the highway and rolled onto its side as the Saturn came to a stop in a ditch.

Thomas was critically injured and transported by Air Life to St. Charles Medical Center. Her right rear two-year-old female passenger was in a child safety seat and was transported to St. Charles with minor injuries.

Ristoff and her two female passengers, ages four and six, were transported to St. Charles Medical Center for treatment of possible or minor injuries.

OSP troopers from the Bend Area Command office are continuing the investigation. Sergeant Eric Brown suggested an alternative location to cross Highway 97 at this intersection. "Motorists should avoid crossing all five lanes of Highway 97 at Gift Road, especially during peak traffic times by using the Deschutes Junction overpass which is much safer," Brown said.

Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Oregon Department of Transportation personnel, and both Bend and Redmond Fire Departments assisted at the scene. Highway 97 was closed about an hour and a half.