A Washington man led police on a chase Saturday night between Sisters and Bend before apparently shooting and killing himself in an SUV along U.S. Highway 20 near Tumalo.

Farhad Masheri, 51, of Vancouver, Washington, was found dead in a rented Jeep Cherokee around 10:10 p.m. Saturday on the highway near Couch Market Road, said Lt. Gregg Hastings with the Oregon State Police.

“Sadly he took his own life,” Hastings said. The chase, apparent suicide and subsequent investigation caused the temporary closure of both lanes of the highway.

Around 8:40 p.m. Saturday a law enforcement agency from the Willamette Valley alerted OSP that an armed, suicidal man was driving a black SUV eastbound on Highway 20 over Santiam Pass, according to Hastings. About 15 minutes later an OSP sergeant spotted the SUV about 5 miles from Sisters and started following it. Other OSP troopers and Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies east of Sisters moved into position to help stop the SUV.

The SUV hit speeds of 90 mph to 100 mph before spike strips deployed by Sheriff’s deputies brought it to a stop around 9:05 p.m. near milepost 12, according to Hastings. The driver didn’t respond as OSP SWAT, a Bend Police Department negotiator and a Bend Police armored truck responded.

“They couldn’t see him in the vehicle,” Hastings said.

Eventually officers approached the SUV and found Masheri, who was armed with a handgun, dead. The Deschutes County Medical Examiner is helping OSP investigate the death. The incident caused curiosity among customers at the Tumalo Feed Company, said John Bushnell, owner of the restaurant in Tumalo. The sight of the armored truck particularly prompted interest.

“When that thing went by we wondered, ‘What is happening up there?’” Bushnell said.

The highway was open again by 11:15 p.m., when Bushnell headed home.

— Reporter: 541-617-7812, ddarling@bendbulletin.com