James Dallas Rector

Sergeant James Rector and Trooper Scott Lyons were killed in a vehicle crash on Crescent Cuttoff Road in Gilchrist. The two officers were assisting another officer at the scene of an accident involving a drunk driver when their marked sport utility vehicle was struck by a wood-chipping truck. They were both pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck was not injured. Sergeant Rector was scheduled to be off duty that day but volunteered to assist other troopers during an annual event in the area. In 1995, he was the Oregon Police Officer of the Year. Throughout his career, he had survived five shootouts and two bullet wounds. Sergeant Rector was a United States Air Force Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Oregon State Police for 24 years. He is survived by his wife and two grown children. His son became an Oregon State Trooper.