UPDATE From Crash On March 21, 2019 - Two Vehicle Fatal Crash On Hwy 97 Near Redmond - Deschutes County (Photo) -09/25/19

After months of investigation into the fatal traffic crash that occurred on March 21, 2019, which resulted in the death of Sara Edwards, the facts were presented to the Grand Jury in Deschutes County on August  23, 2019. The Grand Jury handed down an indictment on charges of Criminally Negligent Homicide and Manslaughter in the Second Degree against Devin Lee Cooper (42).

On September 12, 2019, detectives from the Oregon State Police contacted Cooper at his residence in La Grande. Cooper was cooperative, taken into custody, and lodged at the Union County Jail.

****************************************************************************************************************************************

On Thursday, March 21, 2019 at approximately 6:46 A.M. Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a two vehicle crash on Hwy 97 near milepost 125, just south of Redmond in Deschutes County.

Preliminary investigation determined that a silver Honda Pilot, operated by Sara Edwards (19) of Redmond, was traveling southbound on Hwy 97 when she attempted to avoid a vehicle that was entering Hwy 97 from the Desert Terrace Mobile Estates.  Edwards lost control of her vehicle and slid into the northbound lanes and collided with a Mack Concrete Pumping Truck, operated by Michael Cucera IV (36) from Redmond.

Edwards sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Cucera sustained minor injuries.

Oregon State Police is requesting anyone that witnessed the crash or has any information to please contact the Oregon State Police Dispatch Center at 1-800-442-0776 or *OSP.

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