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UPDATE: Also assisting on scene was Crescent Fire. Attached are photogrpahs from the scene. Birchell's family has been notified of the crash.
Released by: Lt. Ty Rupert
Release Date: 6/20/20
Driver #1: Marvin Cudd Jr. 71 yom Sunriver, Oregon
Vehicle #1: 2003 Ford Taurus
Driver #2: Joseph Birchell 36 yom Venice, Florida
Vehicle #2: 2006 Yamaha VMax motorcycle
NARRATIVE: On June 20, 2020 at approximately 1252 hours deputies were dispatched to Highway 97 and Finley Butte Rd. in La Pine for a report of a vehicle vs. motorcycle crash.
Upon arrival deputies located the rider, Joseph Birchell of Venice, Florida laying in the middle of Highway 97. Parked on Finley Butte Rd was a 2003 Ford Taurus driven by Marvin Cudd Jr. of Sunriver, Oregon who had crashed into Birchell. Birchell sustained a critical injury to his lower right leg. Birchell was treated by La pine Fire as well as Sunriver Fire at the Scene. A landing zone was setup on Highway 97 for Airlink to respond. Due to the severity of the injury, Birchell was flown by Air ambulance (Airlink) to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend for a critical injury.
Highway 97 was closed in both directions for approximately 45 minutes. ODOT assisted with traffic control.
The investigation revealed that Cudd Jr. was driving southbound on Highway 97 and pulled onto the shoulder of the roadway. Birchell was also southbound on Highway 97 in his lane of travel. Cudd Jr. unexpectedly pulled back into the southbound lane of travel to follow a car he had been waiting for and struck Birchell. Birchell and his motorcycle slid across Highway 97 and came to rest in the northbound lanes near Finely Butte Rd.
Drugs and alcohol were not contributing factors in the crash. Cudd Jr. was cited for careless driving. Birchell’s motorcycle was towed from the scene.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is a full service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Street Crimes, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with six K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves the nearly 190,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 230 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 187 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.
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