Fatal crash on highway 97 in Deschutes County

By Mindy Gould on Monday, December 23rd, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories

DESCHUTES COUNTY (News Release from Oregon State Police)-On Friday, December 20, 2024, at 4:12 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Hwy-97, near milepost 128, in Deschutes County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Ford Town & Country, operated by Steven Thomas Lakey (54) of Bend, struck a pedestrian, Glenn Curtis Watkins (28) of Bend, who was on the roadway for unknown reasons.

The pedestrian (Watkins) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Ford (Lakey) was not injured.

The highway was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Redmond Police Department, and ODOT.