07/08/2009

Associated Press

An assault charge has been filed against a passenger accused of causing a Highway 20 crash by striking the driver during an argument.

Deschutes County Sheriff's Lt. Shane Nelson says 36-year-old Paul Anderson of Bend was in the back seat when he assaulted the driver while the car was in motion, causing it to veer off the road and into a fence.

The driver, 40-year-old George Staneff, was cited for driving under the influence and taken to a hospital with undisclosed injuries.

Anderson was lodged in the county jail Tuesday night with bail set at $22,500.