Driver crashes car after chase that began in Jefferson County

On April 15, 2024, at approximately 6:15 p.m., Deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office were advised of a Dodge Charger traveling southbound through Jefferson County at speeds well in excess of 100mph. Deputies learned personnel with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office had initiated and subsequently discontinued a pursuit of the vehicle, and that the vehicle was continuing while passing through traffic unsafely.

A Deschutes County Sheriff's Deputy observed the vehicle continuing southbound past Terrebonne at a high rate of speed. The Deputy initiated a pursuit, but discontinued after the Charger continued accelerating away at an estimated speed of 120mph. The Charger continued through the City of Redmond, at some points utilizing O'Neill Way and Canal Blvd.

Another Deputy successfully deployed spike strips on the speeding vehicle at the HWY 97 Deschutes Junction underpass at Tumalo Road. The Dodge Charger subsequently slid off the right shoulder, through wire fencing and irrigation pipes, and eventually came to a rest in a field. Deputies and Oregon State Police Troopers safely took the suspect into custody. He was identified as 18-year-old Liam Byrne of Bend. It was not apparent whether Byrne had sustained any sort of obvious injury during the crash.

Byrne was transported to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend for evaluation. He will be booked into the Deschutes County Adult Jail for the above-mentioned offenses.