Swift truck drivers killed in fiery crash in Coeur d'Alene

COEUR D'ALENE - Two drivers for Swift Transportation, one from Washington and one from Oregon, were killed early Sunday morning when their semi drifted into a median, then crashed and caught on fire.

[Martha Miller]

One of the two people killed was my son, John. The accident happened at about 4 am on SATURDAY

[long time swift driver]

Im so sorry as to what happened.

[mike]

our prayers go out to john jr who was about to turn 1yrs old from all of us at ewing bros towing in las vegas where john got his start he will be missed and will live on in our hearts

[ESTIVI AKA BIG DADDY]

our prayers go out to john miller, he left a wife and baby and his family... if this is the john miller we knew from las vegas at ewing bros. towing may he rest in peace bro. and will be missed from all of us in vegas.. unit 8

[Martha Miller]

Thank you for your prayers and well wishes. Yes, this is John that was with Ewing in Vegas. His Wife and Son are here with me in Oregon. Services for John will be held at 1:00PM on Saturday 9/20 at the First Presbyterian Church in Newberg, OR 97132

[Carleton]

Our heart, thoughts & prayers go out to John's family.

Carleton & Jessica Kennedy - Office employees at Swift in Troutdale, Oregon

[russ]

i'm sorry for your loss.John sounds like a great
guy.Mark was my student and freind.he also has a
young daughter and loving family.they both will be missed.please let me know if i can help you in anyway.

[carla groce]

Mark Phares will be greatly missed and was loved very much. He was there for me in the loss of my husband. He's the best brother of them all. We loved him very much. Also thank you for all your prayers. I miss his phone calls so much. To the millers I'm so sorry about your great loss of your son. Our prays are with all of you.
Love ya,
Carla Groce (sister of marks)

[Sincere mMotion]

I wanted to let the world know a little more about the men that were killed in the Swift Semi Truck accident that occurred on I-90 September 13, 2008 near Couer d’alene, Idaho.
Both of these men were good men. They were family men and had good strong values.
Mark D. Phares of Vancouver, Washington had an 11 year old daughter. He loved his daughter very much and enjoyed taking her on trips, vacations, playing ball and just hanging out with her. He loved his family and friends and ws a very happy, easy going man. He was loved by so many people.
John Miller was a family man as well. He had a wife and a 1 year old son. He loved his family and looked forward to coming home to them after each trip. He loved his wife and watching his son grow. He loved his family, mother, father, brothers and friends. He had a great sense of humor.
God called upon these two men for a reason, we may never know the reason. I am sure God will ensure that their families are supported and taken care of.
These two men will be missed terribly. All who knew them will feel the loss of both Mark and John.
In loving memory of Mark Phares and John Miller. May they rest in peace and walk with the Lord always.

[Michael]

I just found out about this a few days ago. Mark was my mentor when I went through training at Swift. I hadn't called him in awhile, then, a coworker, who also was one of Mark's students, told me about it.
I'm very sorry to hear about this. I know from our short time driving together that his daughter was the world to him. She was his reason for coming home.

[Joe Pauley]

I have just read about Mark and John each of them had young children and I'm feel very bad for those involved. I truck all over the US and this job is very hard at times.

[Big Mike Unit 71]

John, I know you are reading this. We spoke a few days before this happened.I didn't want to believe it and I still don't. After I had conversation with your wife and saw your baby that is when it hit me. You are missed. I kept calling your phone number just to hear your voice. Wow. I was numb for a while and now when I see a Swift Truck I think about our friendship. May you rest in peace John. I will keep you in my thoughts everyday until we meet at the bottom of Heavens stairs. All I ask of you is when im on the road that you are my co-driver. Thanks for all the good times at Ewing Bros. Goodbye for now John. See you in my dreams.

Big Mike from Las Vegas Nv.
Ewing Bros. Towing
Unit 71.

[CJMILLER]

Big Mike Unit 71 wrote:

John, I know you are reading this. We spoke a few days before this happened.I didn't want to believe it and I still don't. After I had conversation with your wife and saw your baby that is when it hit me. You are missed. I kept calling your phone number just to hear your voice. Wow. I was numb for a while and now when I see a Swift Truck I think about our friendship. May you rest in peace John. I will keep you in my thoughts everyday until we meet at the bottom of Heavens stairs. All I ask of you is when im on the road that you are my co-driver. Thanks for all the good times at Ewing Bros. Goodbye for now John. See you in my dreams.
Big Mike from Las Vegas Nv.
Ewing Bros. Towing
Unit 71.

Big Mike,
I don't know if you'll read this or not..I'm hoping you will. Little John and I are back in Vegas. I tried to track you down at Ewing, but was told you left. Please contact me via email. I'd really like to talk to you. Thanks!!
[e-mail]

[Markus]

May our brothers from Swift Fleet be in the best hands and that God's Hands, you are miss and your duties will never be forgotten, aka Da Writer "Jack Rabbit" Lewis......