La Pine Firefighters were busy with two traffic crashes in less than 24 hours. Wednesday night, July 26, at 8:46 pm, La Pine firefighter/paramedics responded to a motorcycle and rider who hit an elk on the Paulina Road about a mile and half east of US Hwy 97. Firefighter medics were able to stabilize and package the motorcycle rider who was then flown to the hospital in Bend by helicopter. The elk did not survive the crash.
Thursday, July 28, at 11:59 am, La Pine firefighter/paramedics responded to a T – bone motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Rosland Road and US Hwy 97 in La Pine. A SUV had collided with a convertible sports car. Emergency crews had five patients, one who needed extrication and very heavy traffic to contend with. Highway 97 was blocked for a short period of time. Two patients were transported to the hospital in Bend. One by La Pine paramedics and one by Sunriver paramedics. ODOT provided traffic control and cleared the highway to reopen traffic in less than an hour. OSP is investigating.
