Sean C. Morgan
Two Sweet Home men were killed Wednesday afternoon, June 24, in a crash on Highway 34 in Linn County.
Both left fiancés and very young children, family members said.
Donald L. Roberts, 25, and Mason D. Tagen, 24, of Sweet Home were killed in a head-on collision with a gravel truck on their way home from work.
According to Oregon State Police Sgt. Nathan House, at about 4:06 p.m. OSP troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of the crash on Highway 34 Milepost 7.5 (near Tangent).
Police said a 2013 Ford F150 driven by Roberts was traveling eastbound on Hwy. 34, and, for unknown reasons, crossed the centerline into the westbound lanes.
Roberts’ pickup struck a westbound 2007 Kenworth dump truck, operated by Scott D. Lillis, 51, of Philomath, head-on. The dump truck and its trailer, loaded with gravel, overturned and came to rest in the westbound lanes of travel.
Roberts was transported by air ambulance to Salem Memorial Hospital, where he died. His passenger, Tagen, was deceased when emergency crews arrived, police said.
Lillis was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Albany with serious injuries.
Police said evidence at the scene indicated Roberts and Lillis were wearing seatbelts, and Tagen was not.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Both directions of Hwy. 34 were closed for several hours while the investigation and recovery efforts were made. OSP was assisted on scene by Tangent Fire, Albany Fire and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Upward of 200 attended a celebration of life for Tagen on Sunday and then a graveside service on Monday at Lewis Creek Cemetery, said his aunt Laura Housen.
“You can’t ask for a better kid, just sweet, friendly, very respectful,” Housen said. “Sweet kid. It’s like all of us losing our son. That’s how our family is. We’re going to miss him dearly. We love him.”
Tagen loved outdoor activities, and he was a good artist, Housen said. He enjoyed shooting and hunting.
“Fishing with his dad, that was number one right there,” Housen said.
Roberts’ father, Donald A. Roberts, said his son had had some hard times, but had been “trying very hard to change some things.”
Most recently, the younger Roberts had gotten a job with B&G Logging and was doing well, his father said.
“He was really proud because he had just moved to hook tender,” Roberts Sr. said. “He had responsibility fueling the vehicles, getting the guys there in the morning. He got Mason Tagen a job there, one of his friends from childhood.”
Don Jr. had struggled with drugs and alcohol after graduating from high school, where he’d played football and made the state meet in his only season of wrestling for Coach Steve Thorpe, Roberts said. His son had major knee surgery after that, to treat an injury from football.
“The fact that he was able to work in the woods after that was amazing,:” Roberts said.
He remembers his son as having a sense of humor and “he absolutely loved helping other people.
“If somebody got stuck in the mud, he’d go pull them out.”
Don Jr. also loved his twin daughters, his father said.
“Nobody could make them laugh like he did. When he walked into the room , he livened it up. If it wasn’t live, he’d make it that way. “
He said he had wached his son “come from a lot of pain and a lot of trouble to being a good father.
“When Jesus says He will complete a good work, I have seen that happen in my son’s life,” Roberts said.
The two men, who grew up together, left behind three children.
Tagen is survived by a 3-month-old son at home, Housen said. Daemon Dale Tagen wasn’t due until July 7, but he was born 3 months early and Tagen was able to spend time with his newborn son.
The baby’s mother, Madison Pellett, Tagen’s fiancé, is staying with Tagen’s father and stepmother, Greg and Tonya Tagen, Housen said. “She was taking care of the baby, and Mason was working.”
Roberts left behind two 2-year-old daughters, Chloe Ann-Marie Roberts and Paydon Rielee Roberts, and fiancé, Candie Marie Nelson. His celebration of life is scheduled for 4 p.m. on July 6 at Waterloo Park.
A Go Fund Me page is available to help take care of Roberts’ and Tagen’s families under “Donald and Mason’s Family Relief:” http://www.gofundme.com/xvc256x.
– Scott Swanson contributed
to this report.