Oregon State Police, Oregon
End of Watch: Tuesday, September 4, 2001
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: 134-21
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle
Date of Incident: September 4, 2001
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Sentenced to two days
Senior Trooper Maria Mignano and Police Officer Jason Hoerauf, of the Albany Police Department, were struck and killed by the driver of a vehicle at approximately 7:00 pm while assisting the family of a disabled van on I-5 near mile marker 243.
Officer Hoerauf was on a ride-along with his mentor, Sergeant John Burright, when the two stopped to assist the van. Trooper Mignano responded to the scene to back them up. While the three officers were standing on the right side of the van, which was parked on the right shoulder, a pickup truck suddenly swerved across a lane of traffic. The pickup struck the right rear of Trooper Mignano's patrol car, traveled along the other two vehicles, and struck all three officers. The driver of the vehicle was driving on a suspended license at the time and had fallen asleep while driving.
Trooper Mignano and Officer Hoerauf succumbed to their injuries at the scene. Sergeant Burright was flown to a local hospital in extremely critical condition. He suffered critical injuries that caused him to medically retire in early 2002. He remained under continuous medical care until succumbing to complications of his injuries on May 4th, 2021.
In December 2001, the man plead guilty to criminally negligent homicide and was sentenced to two days in jail and three years of probation as part of a plea bargain.
Trooper Mignano had served with the Oregon State Police for eight years.