Sideswiped SUV, then flipped, rolled into car
By Barney Lerten, KTVZ.COM
A good friend of a Bend man who lost control of his SUV, causing a deadly head-on crash on Highway 97 near Deschutes Junction, said Tuesday he is understandably upset about the tragic events and shed some light on what might have happened.
The friend, who asked not to be named, told NewsChannel 21 that Dodd E. Hook, 47, suffered broken ribs in the Monday afternoon crash that killed Jeanne Coward, 69.
He said Hook was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes more than 20 years ago – in a rare case, not discovered until he was in his 20s and was drafted for pro baseball.
The friend said Hook is "extremely responsible" with managing his diabetes issues but "most likely" passed out from low blood sugar, despite use of some high-tech devices to control the illness: one wireless "pod" that puts insulin in his body as needed, and a second wireless device that monitors his blood-sugar levels.
"We're really upset about what happened to this lady," the friend said. "It was a freak thing. We don't know exactly what happened. If his blood sugar goes very low very fast," trouble can arise.
The friend said Hook has lived with his family "for a little over three years. I don't know what we would do without him in our life. He's the godfather to our daughter. He has a big heart."
Deschutes County sheriff's deputies had little new light to shed Tuesday, saying their investigation would take some time. They did say Monday neither speed nor intoxicants appeared to be factors in the crash, which backed up traffic for more than two hours.
Minutes after Deschutes County 911 dispatchers got a call around 2 p.m. of the northbound white Ford Explorer's erratic driving in Bend, the driver, identified as Dodd E. Hook, 47, Bend, lost control on the highway about a mile south of the Deschutes Market Road overpass (Deschutes Junction), said sheriff's Lt. Michael Espinoza.
Hook's Explorer sideswiped a southbound red Pontiac Torrent SUV driven by Lois Gruver of Bend, then overturned and rolled into Coward's white Pontiac Grand Am, also heading south, Espinoza said.
Coward, the car's sole occupant, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which caused extensive damage to both vehicles, the lieutenant said.
Hook sustained minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to the ER at St. Charles Medical Center-Bend for treatment, Espinoza said, adding that Gruver, the other driver, did not report any injuries.
Due to the extensive crash scene, traffic on the highway was slowed to one lane of travel in both directions for about two hours, Espinoza said.
Investigations are under way to determine the cause of the crash, the lieutenant said in a news release, adding, "There is no evidence to suggest intoxicants or speed as being a factor in the crash."
Espinoza said deputies also were trying to determine if any other vehicles were struck, as well as the median barrier on the parkway.
Oregon State Police were assisting with the crash reconstruction work, he said.
The sheriff's office asked that anyone who might have been a witness to the crash or otherwise have pertinent information contact the sheriff's office at (541) 388-6655.
