A caravan of giant trucks rumbled down Highway 74 through Lake Elsinore on Saturday, July 11, to honor Tommy Macias, a 51-year-old truck driver who died recently after contracting the novel coronavirus after going to a barbecue party.
Dozens of trucks drive in a caravan along Collier Ave. in Lake Elsinore on Saturday, July 11, 2020 to honor Tommy Macias, the 51-year-old truck driver from Lake Elsinore who recently died from COVID-19. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A trailer pays tribute to Tommy Macias, the 51-year-old truck driver from Lake Elsinore who recently died from COVID-19, as dozens of truck drivers gather to drive in a caravan to honor Macias in Lake Elsinore on Saturday, July 11, 2020. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Sound
The gallery will resume inseconds
Dozens of trucks drive in a caravan along Collier Ave. in Lake Elsinore on Saturday, July 11, 2020 to honor Tommy Macias, the 51-year-old truck driver from Lake Elsinore who recently died from COVID-19. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A trailer pays tribute to Tommy Macias, the 51-year-old truck driver from Lake Elsinore who recently died from COVID-19, as dozens of truck drivers and friends gather to drive in a caravan to honor Macias in Lake Elsinore on Saturday, July 11, 2020. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Dozens of truck drivers and friends gather at the Lake Elsinore outlet mall in Lake Elsinore on Saturday, July 11, 2020 before driving in a caravan to honor Tommy Macias, the 51-year-old truck driver from Lake Elsinore who recently died from COVID-19. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Dozens of trucks drive in a caravan along Collier Ave. in Lake Elsinore on Saturday, July 11, 2020 to honor Tommy Macias, the 51-year-old truck driver from Lake Elsinore who recently died from COVID-19. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A woman wears a protective face mask as dozens of truck drivers and friends gather at the Lake Elsinore outlet mall in Lake Elsinore on Saturday, July 11, 2020 before driving in a caravan to honor Tommy Macias, the 51-year-old truck driver from Lake Elsinore who recently died from COVID-19. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A trailer pays tribute to Tommy Macias, the 51-year-old truck driver from Lake Elsinore who recently died from COVID-19, as dozens of truck drivers and friends gather to drive in a caravan to honor Macias in Lake Elsinore on Saturday, July 11, 2020. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Dozens of trucks drive in a caravan along Collier Ave. in Lake Elsinore on Saturday, July 11, 2020 to honor Tommy Macias, the 51-year-old truck driver from Lake Elsinore who recently died from COVID-19. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Dozens of truck drivers and friends gather at the Lake Elsinore outlet mall in Lake Elsinore on Saturday, July 11, 2020 before driving in a caravan to honor Tommy Macias, the 51-year-old truck driver from Lake Elsinore who recently died from COVID-19. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Dozens of truck drivers and friends gather at the Lake Elsinore outlet mall in Lake Elsinore on Saturday, July 11, 2020 before driving in a caravan to honor Tommy Macias, the 51-year-old truck driver from Lake Elsinore who recently died from COVID-19. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Gathering mid-morning at the Outlets at Lake Elsinore, truckers traveled east in a line to the Rogue Truck Body shop.
Close friend Colby Caliva of Hemet organized the truck parade.
“He was a very well-loved person,” Caliva said. “He lived in Lake Elsinore and he loved the lake.”
Macias, who was diabetic, had stayed away from gatherings for months, then accepted an invitation to the party in early June as society was reopening, a family member said. He warned people in a Saturday, June 20, Facebook post the day before he died to avoid making the mistake he did.
