Bend Man Dies in Crash on Icy Oregon Highway

Fatal Traffic Crash - Highway 97 north of Bend

Photos: Oregon State Police

(BEND, Ore.) - Police say a Bend-area man died Thursday morning when the vehicle he was driving slid off Highway 97 about three miles north of Bend and rolled onto its top.

The victim was not using safety restraints investigators say, and was partially ejected. A passenger who was using safety restraints was not injured.

Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Terry Miller says that around 8:30 AM, a 1998 Dodge 2500 4x4 pickup driven by 32-year old David Lawrence Burchem of Bend, was northbound on Highway 97 near milepost 131 on the snow-covered roadway.

The pickup slid off the east side of the highway and rolled onto its top. Mr. Burchem was not using safety restraints and was partially ejected. Miller said. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The vehicle's passenger, 25-year old Justin M. Mayes of Bend, was using safety restraints and was not injured.

OSP troopers from the Bend Area Command office are completing the investigation. They speed and slick road conditions were contributing factors.

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, ODOT and Bend Fire Department assisted at the scene.