Eugene, OR – The Eugene Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a heroic nurse who played a crucial role in saving the life of a traffic crash victim on Highway 18 earlier this month.
The incident occurred around 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, when Deputy Chief Shawn Adams, returning from a work conference, was the first to arrive at the scene of a serious head-on collision near the Willamina Junction. The crash involved two vehicles, one of which was a severely damaged Prius.
Without hesitation, Deputy Chief Adams immediately began providing emergency care to one of the drivers involved in the crash. However, his efforts soon gained significant support from an unexpected source: a nurse who arrived shortly after the deputy.
The nurse, identified only as “Mikayla” by Adams, is believed to be an emergency room (ER) nurse, though police officials have been unable to confirm the correct spelling of her name. According to Adams, the nurse quickly assessed the situation and began assisting in treating the injured driver.
In a statement, Deputy Chief Adams recalled the moment: “As we began care for the driver, there was a conversation between Mikayla and me to determine who had the higher level of training and was best positioned to provide primary care. That’s when I learned she was an ER nurse.”
Despite the nurse’s life-saving efforts, she left the scene before emergency responders could gather her contact information, and now, officials are hoping to reconnect with her.
“Mikayla was amazing,” said Adams. “I believe she may have saved this driver’s life. At a minimum, I know her actions had a tremendous positive impact on the driver, and she deserves to be recognized for the skill, effort, and compassion she displayed during those 30 minutes. We were inside the crushed Prius, waiting for firefighters to cut off the roof of the car. She was calm, composed, and incredibly effective.”
Deputy Chief Adams and other officials have expressed their gratitude and admiration for the nurse’s actions, noting that her expertise was invaluable during such a critical time. The crash victim, whose identity has not been released, was ultimately transported to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, thanks in part to the prompt and skilled intervention provided by both Adams and Mikayla.
The Eugene Police Department is now seeking the public’s help to locate Mikayla so she can be properly recognized for her heroic actions. Anyone who may know her or have further information is encouraged to contact the police department.
In a time when healthcare professionals are often stretched thin, Mikayla’s selflessness serves as a reminder of the impact one person can have in a crisis. Her willingness to step in without hesitation, providing critical care in an emergency situation, underscores the importance of community and the extraordinary acts of kindness that can emerge even in the most chaotic circumstances.
