A weekend camping trip at Suttle Lake turned tragic when a 6-year-old girl from the Redmond area was fatally injured after she was struck by a travel trailer at the Link Creek Campground on Saturday, May 23. Family members and nearby campers immediately began first aid, and the child was flown by air ambulance to St. Charles Bend, where she was later pronounced dead. Jefferson County deputies have said the death appears to be an accident and that the driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
How deputies say it unfolded
According to KTVZ, emergency dispatchers received the call in the early afternoon. Responders set up a landing zone at the intersection of Highway 20 and Suttle Lake Road before the child was transferred to an air ambulance. Adults from nearby campsites and the girl’s family members worked to administer aid while multiple agencies documented the scene and supported the family.
Investigators' initial findings
In reporting by KGW, investigators said two children had run from the Suttle Lake shoreline back to their campsite to grab a toy and were on their way back toward the water when the 6-year-old moved into the space between a tow vehicle and the trailer it was pulling. Officials told reporters that her position between the vehicle and trailer likely kept the driver from seeing her. They said there is no indication of criminal behavior or impairment.
Who responded
Responding agencies included the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, the Black Butte Police Department and the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, KTVZ reports. Deputies stayed with the family, who local reports say are from Redmond, and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office publicly extended its deepest condolences to everyone affected.
About Link Creek Campground
Link Creek Campground sits on the western shore of Suttle Lake in the Deschutes National Forest and is a popular summer spot for boating and weekend camping, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The campground is about 13 miles northwest of Sisters and offers RV-capable sites along with a boat launch.
How blind spots turn deadly
Trailers and tow vehicles can create large blind zones that easily hide small children from a driver’s view, and non-traffic “backover” incidents remain a persistent danger nationwide. Safety groups and federal research document hundreds of backover deaths and thousands of injuries every year, with many cases involving very young children, according to KidsAndCars. Experts recommend using a spotter whenever possible, checking the entire area before moving any tow vehicle and keeping children well away from vehicles while trailers are being hooked up or moved.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has reiterated that the child’s death appears accidental and said the investigation is ongoing. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the sheriff's office. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, officials are not releasing the child’s identity.
