A family places sunflowers at a monument on I-5 where Oregon State Police Sgt. John Burright, Trooper Maria Mignano and Albany police officer Jason Hoerauf were struck by a car in 2001. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
A procession of public safety cars traveled from Albany to Salem Wednesday morning to mourn the loss of a former Oregon State Police trooper.
Former Sgt. John Burright died on May 4 from complications from injuries sustained on the job nearly 20 years earlier. On Sept. 4, 2001, he was hit on the side of Interstate 5 while helping a disabled motorist. Trooper Maria Mignano and Albany police officer Jason Hoerauf were instantly killed.
The crash left Burright paralyzed and ended his career.
The procession started at the Linn County Fairgrounds, 3700 Knox Butte Rd. E., at 10:20 a.m. and continued north along Interstate 5 to the Salem Armory, where a memorial service was held.
Onlookers carrying American flags wait for a procession of emergency vehicles on an overpass on I-5 Wednesday. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
A convoy of motorcycles from police departments in the mid Willamette Valley and Portland area travels toward Salem Wednesday ahead of a memorial service for former Oregon State Police Sgt. John Burright.(Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Trucks pass by a memorial marker placed near the spot on I-5 where Oregon State Police Sgt. John Burright, Trooper Maria Mignano and Albany police officer Jason Hoerauf were struck by a car in 2001. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Onlookers holding American flags watch for a convoy of emergency vehicles from an overpass Wednesday, Aug. 25. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Motorcycles from police departments in the mid-Willamette Valley and Portland area are parked in front of the Salem Armory Wednesday ahead of a memorial service for former Oregon State Police Sgt. John Burright. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
A giant American flag is suspended between two Salem Fire Department aerial platform trucks near the Salem Armory Wednesday, Aug. 25. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
A long line of emergency vehicles travels slowly towards Salem Wednesday on I-5 in a procession honoring former Oregon State Police Sgt. John Burright (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Salem firefighters take down a giant American flag that was suspended near the armory Wednesday, Aug. 25 (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Onlookers holding American flags watch for a convoy of emergency vehicles from an overpass Wednesday, Aug. 25 (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
NEWS TIP? Send an email to Salem Reporter at [email protected] or call 503-575-1251.
JUST THE FACTS, FOR SALEM – We report on your community with care and depth, fairness and accuracy. Get local news that matters to you. Subscribe to Salem Reporter starting at $5 a month. Click I want to subscribe!
Photographer Ron Cooper and his wife Penny moved to Salem in 1969 to take a job as photographer at the Oregon Statesman (later the Statesman Journal). Their three children, Monica, Kimberly, and Christopher, attended and graduated from Salem public schools. Cooper retired from the Statesman Journal in 2001 but, has continued his passion for photography in many ways, including as a photographer for the Salem Reporter.
