Oklahoma State University mascot becomes parade crash hero

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Pistol Pete is more than a mascot or famous cowboy. He embodies the spirit of the Oklahoma State University family. That family was forced to come together under the most tragic of circumstances, and Pistol Pete was right there in the middle of it.

Taylor Collins, one of the students who portrays Pistol Pete this year, did not hesitate to jump in and help out.

"As Frank Eaton he was a cowboy that was rough and tough but very outgoing and loving," Collins said. "The Cowboy family reflects Pistol Pete. The fact that so many people have come together to make light of a bad situation really reflects OSU and Pistol Pete."

Collins had already traveled the route of the parade on the Pistol Pete float, and was leaving breakfast with his sister near the crash scene when a police car sped past him. He drove in that direction to see what was going on, and when he got to the scene of the deadly homecoming parade collision, a man flagged him down, saying they needed to use his truck to help transport some of the less injured spectators.

The Stillwater News-Press (http://bit.ly/1WV2zhr ) reports that they loaded a young boy and his father into the back seat of Collins pickup, and placed another injured boy, 12-year-old Alleyn Campbell in the bed of the truck with some blankets.

"You could tell Alleyn's leg was hurt, but we didn't know the extent of the injury," Collins said. "They just looked banged up to the naked eye."

Collins said he rushed the victims to the hospital and returned to the scene to see if there was any more he could do to help.

There wasn't, and he went on to perform his regular duties as Pistol Pete for the rest of the day with heavy thoughts from the morning weighing on his mind.

"I was one of many," Collins said. "There were so many that helped and did a great job."

In the chaos and commotion at the scene, exchanging names was the last thing on anyone's mind but the story developed further the next day when Collins was connected with Alleyn's mother, Collett Campbell, through a mutual friend.

As it turns out, Alleyn is a huge OSU and Pistol Pete fan who had gone to the corner of Main Street and Hall of Fame Avenue alone to watch the parade, while his father worked nearby and his mother set up their tailgate.

"He told me he saw the car coming and tried to get out of the way," Collett Campbell said. "He remembers something hitting him and the next thing he knew, he was on the ground and people were talking to him."

Alleyn suffered a head injury, shoulder injury and injuries to both legs when he was clipped by the vehicle that ran through the crowd and was hospitalized for several days.

He and his family didn't realize exactly who the good Samaritan driving him to the hospital was at first, but Collett said she began to suspect at the hospital when she heard the driver on his cell phone telling someone, "It's OK. I left my head with one of the cheerleaders."

Alleyn finally got to properly meet his hero Sunday when Collins went back to the hospital to check on him and meet Collett.

Then Collins returned to the hospital Monday to visit with Alleyn again.

"It was good getting to shake his hand and look him in the eye and know he is improving," Collins said. "He has a great, strong heart."

Alleyn was released from the hospital. He left with his left leg immobilized and using a wheelchair, but was able to return to school for a few hours a few days later.

Although his recovery will take some time, his mother is thankful he wasn't hurt more seriously and grateful to the mascot who became a real-life hero for her son.

"We told Alleyn, 'Not everyone gets to go for a ride in Pistol Pete's truck,' " she said.

Merrick Eagleton, Michelle Charles. Stillwater News Press. Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Gayly - 11/13/2015 @ 2:44 p.m.