Bishop of Baker uninjured in rollover accident

Published: 2005-06-14

BEND, Ore. (CNS) -- Bishop Robert F. Vasa of Baker was uninjured in a late-night rollover accident June 12 that destroyed his sport utility vehicle. The accident occurred around 11 p.m. about 20 miles north of Madras as the bishop was returning to his home in Bend from a confirmation celebration. Bishop Vasa swerved to avoid a deer standing in the middle of the state highway, then swerved again around an oncoming vehicle and lost control of his Chevrolet Tahoe. The SUV went down a steep embankment, hit a boulder and flipped over before coming to rest upside down in a shallow creek paralleling the highway. "Then the ride was over," Bishop Vasa, 54, told the Catholic Sentinel, newspaper of the Portland Archdiocese and the Baker Diocese. He was able to shut off the engine and climb out through the smashed rear window.

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .