Audrey Gomez
Sweet Home turned out in force Friday, Feb. 5, to say good-bye to Neil Nightingale, who died following a catastrophic collision between two trucks on Jan. 21.
Approximately 100 drivers gathered their log trucks and a few other rigs at T2 Trucking Friday morning, then formed a single-file procession and drove to Sweet Home High School, where a memorial service for Nightingale took place.
Driver Johnny McGee of Sweet Home, who helped organize the event, said the purpose was simply “to pay our last respects to Neil by following the highway where he lost his life.”
The trucks followed Nightingale’s pickup, carrying some of his close friends, eastward in the slow lane of the highway as passing vehicles honked in support. In Sweet Home residents, some wearing red and black, the colors of Nightingale’s truck, crowded the sidewalks in places, waving and saluting the procession as police controlled traffic.
“This community is awesome,” said Jim Morse, who said he is “fairly new” in town.
“What a blessing to have the community come together like this and show support.”
Truckers came from as far away as Baker City and Joseph.
Corey McVey of Elkhorn Mountain Logging in Silverton said they were simply there to “support” the family and community.
“We all seem to have some sort of connection,” he said as he and family members walked from their rigs, parked behind the Sweet Home High School baseball field, to the service. “It’s a pretty tight bond.”
Inside the packed auditorium, retired Sweet Home High School football coach Rob Younger led the service, which included a photo tribute prepared by Crystal Kimball and some of Nightingale’s favorite songs, “The Dance” by Garth Brooks and “Home Sweet Home” by Motley Crue.
“We just want to give him a send-off,” McGee said. “This is an awesome town. It worked out very well.”
Crash Investigation
Oregon State Police are still investigating the Jan. 21 crash that left the two drivers in critical condition. Nightingale,39, succumbed to his injuries on Jan. 29.
The other driver, Robert Gene Mayfield, 54, of Sweet Home has undergone several surgeries and has more ahead.
The initial police report said Mayfield was driving a Papé machinery repair truck westbound on Highway 20 when his vehicle crossed from its lane of travel to the center turn lane.
Mayfield’s truck continued into the eastbound lane where it collided head-on into a 2011 Kenworth log truck, operated by Nightingale.
A 2003 Subaru Legacy, operated by David Briggs, 59, of Lebanon, was also eastbound and collided with the log truck after the initial crash occurred.
Briggs did not sustain any injuries, according to police.
The crash is still under investigation,” said OSP Lt. Steve Mitchell. “It is being reconstructed by our crash team investigators and they will have more information as to possible causes once their investigation is complete.”
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is staffed by 46 investigators, according to the OSP website. Fourteen of those investigators are collision reconstructionists, “internationally accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction (ACTAR), and 32 Technical Collision Investigators.”
“Several witnesses have been identified and interviewed and additional evidence has been collected and is being reviewed,” Mitchell said.
“Investigative efforts are focusing on why the 1998 International utility truck crossed from its lane of travel and collided with the Kenworth log truck.”
Mayfield has been interviewed and is cooperating with the investigation, he added.
“Three months is typical for this type of investigation,” Mitchell said. “It is being reconstructed, which takes a considerable amount of time.”
Once the investigation is completed, the report will be forwarded to the Linn County District Attorney, he said.
Mayfield update
Julie Mayfield, Gene Mayfield’s wife, said this week he has been moved to Lebanon Rehab, “which is closer to home and our family,” and she has been able to return to work at the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District, where she is assistant to the chief.
Gene Mayfield has had three surgeries, she said, and one more to go this week for facial fractures.
She said he will be in therapy for months, if not years, she said. Still, they are grateful he survived.
“He continues to share how good God is with every person that walks through the doorway.”
Both families have expressed gratitude to community members for their prayers and financial support after the crash.
“We are so, so very grateful for the continued support and prayers from our wonderful community,:” she said. “We
are blessed beyond measure. Gene has a long road of recovery, but we remain with our eyes on the one who heals our hearts and bodies, Jesus Christ.”
– Scott
Swanson contributed to this report.