OREGON-Sergeant John Burright, of the Oregon State Police, died May 4, 2021. On September 4, 2001, Sergeant Burright sustained injuries in a vehicle accident. At the time, two other officers lost their lives as well. Sergeant Burright was assisting in a vehicle stop. While all three officers were on side of car, a truck hit one of the patrol cars, pushing other vehicles into the officers. The driver had a suspended license and had fallen asleep behind the wheel. The other two officers, Trooper Mignano and Officer Hoerauf succumbed to their injuries at the scene of the accident. Sergeant Burright was taken to a nearby hospital.
Sergeant Burright had critical injuries from the incident and retired in 2002. He was under constant medical care until he died.
In December of 2001, the driver that hit the officers plead guilty to criminally negligent homicide.
Sergeant Burright served with the Oregon State Police for fourteen years and his survived by his wife and children. In 2016, a street was named in his honor.
Source: ODMP
Hilary Rodela
Hilary Rodela is currently a Surveillance Officer, a former Private Investigator, a former Crime Scene Investigator, and Evidence Technician. She worked for the Ruidoso (NM) Police Department as well as the Lubbock (TX) Police Department. She has written for several public safety publications and has extensive law enforcement and forensic training and is pursuing forensic expertise in various disciplines. Hilary is a freelance public safety writer and curriculum developer for the National Investigative Training Academy.
