Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers are investigating a head-on crash on highway 97 near milepost 123, in Redmond. Preliminary information indicates that shortly before 3:30 p.m., on Wednesday, February 11, a silver Dodge 2500 pickup, driven by TROY J. SCHAFFNER, 27, of Redmond, was northbound on highway 97 when for undetermined reasons it crossed the center median and into the right-hand lane of southbound traffic. The Dodge collided head-on with a 2002 Freightliner semi-truck and trailer, driven by GABRIEL PEREZ, 44, of Imperial CA. SCHAFFNER was transported via ground ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend and PEREZ was not injured. Both drivers were using safety restraints and the airbags in the Dodge deployed. First responders to the scene discovered suspicious items in the Dodge similar to improvised explosive devices. OSP Bomb Technicians were called in to collect the devices and secure the scene. Traffic was delayed for about 2.5 hours during the event. The highway was closed for 5-10 minutes while technicians secured the devices in a trailer designed to contain explosives. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation and follow-up on the suspicious devices also. Additional information will be released when it becomes available.
