PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The McKinneys are asking questions involving the death of beloved grandfather, 50-year-old Miguel McKinney, who was struck by a hit-and-run driver while working as a roadway flagger in Northeast Gresham on Sep. 1.Miguel was taken to OHSU, where he was put on life support. Family and friends filled the waiting rooms beyond capacity. His widow, Misty McKinney, said her husband of 20 years was left unrecognizable after the impact he took.“They said he was getting worse and that there’s more bleeding…there’s more swelling,” she said. “He lost all of his teeth…no one could look at him.”
For a short time there were signs of brain activity as coworkers, friends, and loved ones were able to say their goodbyes. Miguel’s son, Heath McKinney, said the number of people wanting to say goodbye showed his family how much of an impact Miguel left.“It was amazing to see so many people that I know he touched in such a positive way,” he said.Coworkers in particular from other jobs that Miguel worked for made sure to show up and give their condolences. Nick Hudson worked with Miguel in the past, adding that Miguel always stood for and by his coworkers.“When Miguel was there, you got all of him…everywhere he went, man, you got a 100% always,” Hudson said.The McKinney family ultimately made the difficult decision to shut off Miguel’s life support after it was made clear that he was not going to improve. Misty said it’s a decision she never thought she would have to make in her lifetime.“He passed away with me holding him…in my arms,” Misty said. Not a lot of people get to say that.”In the days since the hit-and-run, Gresham Police are still looking for the driver responsible. Members of Miguel’s family want to see the driver responsible come forward. Heath says he wants the driver to know the man they took away from his family.“You took somebody who was outstanding to so many people and so many companies,” Heath said. “My phone right now has too many messages from people saying he is the most amazing person around.”
“I’m pleading with him to come forward; I want to talk to him, I want to know what happened,” Misty added. Because of Miguel’s job as a flagger, his family wants people to know the danger that road work crews face on a day-to-day basis. Misty says drivers need to understand and respect the risk these workers take to ensure they have a safe road to drive on.”Those are the people that keep you coming home to your family every night,” Misty said. “Construction workers, flaggers, and anyone who works out on a roadway… they’re risking their lives and they know it.”
There’s currently a GoFundMe set up by Miguel’s family to cover funeral arrangements…