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Sisters man dies in accident
By Jim Cornelius

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Mark Diener of Sisters died Friday, March 9, in a single-vehicle accident on Remuda Road west of Sisters.

Sisters firefighters responded to a report of a car fire at 10:23 a.m. and found a two-door passenger vehicle fully engulfed in flames. The victim's body was found in the driver's seat.

The victim's brother, Richard Diener, confirmed his identity, which had not been officially released. An autopsy is to be conducted on Monday.

Richard Diener told The Nugget he believes a medical condition led to his brother's death, probably before the fire started. He said he has thoroughly discussed all aspects of the accident with investigators.

"In our family, we have certain problems with cholesterol and congenital heart disease," Diener said.

Diener said his brother was driving to his office from his home on Remuda Road, after having attended Bible study and a Taekwondo workout earlier that morning.

"What I believe happened to him -- what I know, in essence ... he probably got a pain in his chest," Diener said.

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The victim's brother related that he has experienced similar episodes. "It probably stunned him a little bit and he went off the road and hit a couple of small trees," he said.

Deschutes County Sheriff's Office reports confirm that the driver lost control and struck several small trees, then backed up, and continued driving east for 100 yards before the vehicle left the roadway again.

"I think he had another seizure right then," Richard Diener said.

The car ran over several large rocks, which it dragged beneath it.

The rocks damaged the vehicle's undercarriage and caused a fuel leak, which ignited underneath the car, according to sheriff's office reports.

"I believe my brother was already dead when that happened," Diener said.

Diener acknowledged that his understanding of the accident is subject to modification by autopsy results.

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The accident stunned the Sisters community, where Mark Diener was an active and well-loved participant in the life of his church, in the schools and in the Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation.

As the father of two young children, Diener was regarded as an exceptionally devoted husband and father and an inspiration to the many people who considered him a friend.

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