Fatal accident near Redmond

A female driver died in an accident involving three vehicles on U.S. Highway 97 just south of Redmond Tuesday evening.

The accident occurred about 6:30 p.m., according to Capt. Bill Fugate, spokesperson for Oregon State Police. The drivers of the two other vehicles were taken to St. Charles Medical Center — one to Bend and the other to Redmond. Their injuries did not appear life-threatening, Fugate said. It did not appear that any of the vehicles had passengers, he said.

Both directions of the highway were closed by 7 p.m. and remained closed until nearly 8 p.m., when one southbound lane opened for both north- and southbound vehicles to take turns using.

The investigation into the accident continues, but Fugate said it appeared that a southbound vehicle crossed over the center line into the northbound lane. That driver was declared dead at the scene, Fugate said. Police have not yet released the identity of the crash victims.

Fugate urged drivers to avoid the area — near milepost 126 at Southwest Tomahawk Avenue — and take alternate routes, such as the Old Bend-Redmond Highway. Road information is available at www.tripcheck.com.

Crash kills 2 in Jefferson County

A three-vehicle crash killed two people Monday night on U.S. Highway 97 south of Madras.

Oregon State Police responded to the scene, near milepost 102, at 6:30 p.m. According to an OSP news release, a 2007 Honda Ridgeline was northbound on Highway 97 when it drifted across the median and into oncoming traffic. It first hit a southbound 2012 Toyota Corolla, then hit a southbound 2003 Corolla head-on, the release said.

The crash killed two passengers of the 2003 Corolla, Richard Mullins of Madras as well as a 10-year-old boy. Nicole Sly, of Crooked River Ranch, and an 8-year-old female passenger were airlifted to St. Charles Bend. Sly, 36, was the driver of the 2003 Corolla.

Mateo Smith, 19, of Warm Springs, was the driver of the Honda. He and his 17-year-old passenger were taken to St. Charles Redmond for injuries that were not life-threatening.

According to the release, information on the occupants of the 2012 Corolla are not yet available.

The crash closed the highway for three hours as investigators looked over the scene. Fatigue is being looked at as a factor in the crash, the release said.

Officials: Death was hypothermia

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has changed its conclusion on the cause of death of a Sisters homeless man who died in his car near Arrowleaf Trail on Saturday.

Following a thorough medical examination, the Deschutes County Medical Examiner’s Office said Edward Carlton Fones, 39, died of hypothermia, not carbon monoxide poisoning, which was initially thought to be the cause of death.

Investigators originally believed that Fones died as a result of sitting in a running car buried in snow. They thought the snow surrounding the car was forcing exhaust fumes to collect underneath and then enter the vehicle.

However, an updated press release states that while carbon monoxide, drugs and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the death, the subzero temperature on the night of the death was the ultimate cause of death.

The death is still believed to be accidental, the release said.

State money available for renewable energy

Businesses, nonprofits, tribes and public entities can get state help to install renewable energy systems.

The Oregon Department of Energy has $2 million available in funds for projects through its Renewable Energy Development Grant program. To qualify for the grants, systems must produce electricity from renewable sources like biomass, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, wind, landfill gas, biogas, wave, tidal or ocean thermal energy. Grants have a $250,000 cap and cannot exceed 35 percent of the project cost.

Most of the funds — $1.5 million — will go toward projects that exceed 300 kilowatts in size. The remaining $500,000 will fund smaller projects, according to the department. No projects can exceed 35 megawatts in size.

This marks the sixth round of grants. Previous recipients include public entities, agricultural producers, manufacturers and nonprofits. The application deadline is Feb. 10 and the department will notify recipients in late spring. Applicants can submit questions to the department by Dec. 31 and the agency will post answers on its website by Jan. 6. For more information, visit www.oregon.gov/energy.

— Bulletin staff reports