Redmond, Oregon– On Saturday, December 16, 2023, at approximately 7:14 p.m., Oregon State Police troopers were dispatched to the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Highway 97 near milepost 128, located south of Redmond.
Preliminary findings from the investigation suggest that a white Ford Econoline van, driven by Ghandi Lakshmi Satya Sai Yerramsetti (23) of Redmond, was traveling northbound on Highway 97 when, for reasons yet unknown, it veered onto the highway’s shoulder. The van then lost control, crossing both northbound lanes, the center median, and colliding with a southbound silver 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Nicholas Loren Husted (32) of Bend.
Both Ghandi Lakshmi Satya Sai Yerramsetti and the Jeep’s passenger, Christy Lee Bigelow (29) of Bend, sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Jeep, Nicholas Loren Husted, was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The aftermath of the collision caused the closure of Highway 97 for an extensive crash investigation, leading to a detour for affected traffic. Amidst this disruption, another incident occurred when a suspected impaired driver, identified as Nicholas Jason Cardone (33) of Bend, collided with an Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) vehicle responsible for directing traffic at 61st Street. Cardone was arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII) by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. The ODOT vehicle operator, while evaluated at a local hospital, sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, an additional non-injury crash unfolded in the southbound lane near the initial collision site. Lylliane Walczyk (20) was arrested for DUII in connection with this incident.
The Oregon State Police received invaluable assistance from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Bend Fire Department, and the Oregon Department of Transportation throughout the comprehensive response to this series of events.
All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: OSP
