A Bend man has been accused of strangling his girlfriend, who managed to escape during the domestic dispute Monday after she stabbed him.

Martin Douglas Adler, 53, was charged Wednesday with strangulation, coercion and fourth-degree assault, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

The dispute began at about 9 p.m. Monday, when Adler and his 23-year-old girlfriend, Deidre Nicole Dillard, were driving in a silver 2017 Ford F150 on Paulina Lake Road, north of La Pine, the sheriff’s office said.

The couple began arguing in the truck and Dillard asked Adler to take her home, the sheriff’s office said. Adler refused and then drove her farther down Paulina Lake Road.

Dillard wanted to get away from Adler and get out of the vehicle. But at that point, Adler stopped the truck and placed his hands around Dillard’s neck and began strangling her, according to the sheriff’s office.

Dillard was unable to breathe and attempted multiple times to break Adler’s hold on her neck. She then feared for her life and took a small knife from her pocket and stabbed Adler multiple times in self-defense, according to the sheriff’s office.

Dillard then got out of the truck and flagged own the first vehicle she saw. The driver of the passing vehicle let her call 911 and then drove her to the sheriff’s office substation in La Pine.

Adler, who had serious injuries, was later found by deputies at a residence in La Pine.

Deputies performed first aid on Adler, and he was transported by air ambulance to St. Charles Bend.

On Wednesday, afternoon Adler was arrested and booked in Deschutes County Jail. He remains in custody on $20,000 bail, according to jail records.