Trooper
William Joseph 'Joe' Trees
Indiana State Police
Monday, June 26, 1972

Age: 28
Served: 3 years, 9 months
Badge #:
Panel 44E, Line 10
Panel L2, Line 9

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Vehicle pursuit
Date/Time of Incident:
Monday, June 26, 1972
01:25 am
Incident to Death Duration:
Same day
Incident Location:
State Road 64 near County Road 750 East
Incident County:
Gibson
Incident Township:
Center
Weapon Used:
None
Suspect Disposition:
Never apprehended
Burial Place:
Jefferson Cemetery, Upland

Share this Memorial
   

   Trooper William Trees was killed in a two-vehicle accident during a pursuit on State Road 64 about three-quarters mile east of Francisco.

   As he was assisting the Francisco town marshal with speeding vehicles, he began chasing a violator when his patrol car struck an oncoming semitrailer head-on. The fleeing vehicle was never found.

   Trooper Trees, from Oakland City, was assigned to the Evansville post. He was survived by his wife, son born six months after his death and 18-month-old daughter.

Military Service


United States Naval Reserve
Vietnam War
Radarman Petty Officer Third Class (RD3)
1965–1968

Memorial Tribute

• In 2013, the northbound Interstate 69 bridge over the Patoka River in Gibson County was dedicated the Trooper William J. ''Joe'' Trees Memorial Bridge in his honor.



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Trooper William Joseph 'Joe' Trees - Indiana State Police - INLEM.org