On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at approximately 6:25 A.M., the Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on HWY 97, near milepost 154, in Deschutes County. The preliminary investigation indicated a grey Jeep Wrangler, operated by Stanley Stephen Smith (54) of Bend, was northbound on HWY 97 when it lost control, left the roadway, and entered a ditch. The Jeep began to roll, the operator was ejected and the vehicle came to rest upside down on top of the operator. First responders initiated emergency medical treatment, however the driver was declared deceased at the scene. The roadway was impacted for the duration of the on-scene investigation. The initial indicators point to roadway conditions as a major contributing factor to the crash. OSP was assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriffs’ Department and ODOT.
