Fatal crash on Highway 97 in Deschutes County

By Mindy McKerrall on Thursday, December 18th, 2025 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories

DESCHUTES COUNTY (Release from Oregon State Police)-On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 5:34 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a four-vehicle crash on Highway 97, near milepost 127, in Deschutes County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Chrysler Pacifica, operated by William Longhway Sargent (79) of Bend, crossed into the northbound lanes for unknown reasons and sideswiped a northbound Landrover Range Rover, operated by John Bowman Browning III (18) of Redmond, and a Chevrolet Tahoe, operated by Joseph Anthony Russo (25) of Terrebonne, before striking a northbound Freightliner commercial motor vehilce and trailer, operated by Johnny Edward Jantzen Jr. (61) of Red Bluff (CA), head-on.

The operator of the Chrysler (Sargent) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Landrover (Browning III), Chevrolet (Russo), and Freightliner (Jantzen Jr.) were reportedly uninjured.

The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and ODOT