PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputy is back on full duty after he was critically injured in a deadly crash involving five high school students in 2022.
Deputy Michael Trotter -- who has served with WCSO since 2013 -- returned to full duty on Tuesday after spending weeks in the hospital with life-threatening injuries and recovering in a rehab facility following the crash, the sheriff's office said.
“I was repeatedly told I would probably never walk again. Every time I was told this, it strengthened my resolve to prove them wrong and return to the job I love," Trotter told KOIN 6 News in a statement on Wednesday. "I am thankful for all of the family, community, and agency support.”
Just after midnight April 27, 2022, Trotter was on duty when a teenage driver of a Nissan Altima ran a red light on TV Highway and Murray Boulevard, according to Beaverton police.
The Nissan slammed into the side of the patrol car, critically injuring Trotter.
The crash killed two teens, 16-year-old Juan Pacheco Aguilera and 17-year-old Matthew Amaya. Three other teens were taken to the hospital in critical condition.
One of those three was the driver, 18-year-old Xavier Denzel Rodriguez, who was later found guilty of two counts of first-degree manslaughter, two counts of second-degree assault, and one count of driving under the influence of intoxicants.
About six weeks after the crash, Trotter was released from the hospital to a rehab facility to continue his long road to recovery and return home to his wife and their then three-year-old son.
The massive turnout for Trotter’s hospital discharge included people from all departments in Washington County Sheriff’s Office. While they were at the hospital, Washington County had backup cover from city police departments.
After the crash, Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett said the crash was "a stark reminder of how dangerous police work can be. It’s not only the bravery of my team that amazes me, it is also the unwavering support for each other as they raise their hand every day to accept a certain amount of risk to serve our community in an incredibly important way."
In a Facebook post on Tuesday announcing the deputy's return to duty, Washington County Sheriff's Office said “Trotter has shown incredible strength and determination on the road to recovery. Your hard work and resilience are truly inspiring, and we are so glad to have you back with us. Welcome back, Deputy Trotter – your courage is an inspiration to us all!”
