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Incident
Trooper Nicky Cayton was struck and killed by the driver of a Mack truck on the northbound lane of Route 11 in Canfield around noon.
Trooper Cayton responded to a disabled tractor-trailer and was in his patrol cruiser with lights activated when the truck hit him. His vehicle was pushed into the disabled tractor-trailer. Trooper Cayton was killed at the scene. The driver of the disabled tractor-trailer was transported to the hospital.
The driver of the Mack truck was not injured.
Trooper Cayton was an Ohio Army National Guard veteran and had served with the Ohio State Highway Patrol for 13 years. In 2022, he was named Ohio Trooper of the Year.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, mother, and father.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Nicholas is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper Cayton gave the Ohio State Highway Patrol 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Ohio. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Nicholas P. Cayton served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Ohio State Highway Patrol has lost 42 officers; 33 of them lost to accidents.
Nicholas is one of 319 officers lost to accidents in OH, 32.1% of the 993 remembered there.
Nicholas is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Nicholas is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2025, 1 officer at Ohio State Highway Patrol was lost to accidents, the 6th heaviest of 28 years on record. The heaviest was 1935, with 2.
In 2025, 1 officer in OH was lost to accidents, the 76th heaviest of 125 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 8.
In 2025, 35 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 112th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2025, 37 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 117th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Nicholas was 40. Of the 33 lost to accidents at Ohio State Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 25 and 34; the middle age was 28. Nicholas had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 3.5 years.
Nicholas was 40. Of the 310 lost to accidents in OH whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 37. Nicholas had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Nicholas was 40. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Nicholas had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Nicholas was 40. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Nicholas had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 12.1% of these deaths at Ohio State Highway Patrol; February holds the most, 15.2%. Thursdays: 21.2%.
October holds 7.2% of these deaths in OH; July holds the most, 12.2%. Thursdays: 14.4%.
October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
October holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 78.6% of all 42 deaths at Ohio State Highway Patrol, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 32.1% of all 993 deaths in OH, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Ohio State Highway Patrol has 42 officers remembered here, Nicholas among them.
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John F. Best
Jun 17, 1935
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LeRoy S. Bedell
Aug 20, 1935
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James E. Ivory
Jan 7, 1936
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Charles W. Timberlake
Aug 7, 1936
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Karl E. Bushong
Jun 7, 1937
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George A. Conn
Sep 27, 1937
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Charles G. Cannon
Jan 1, 1938
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John G. Hough
Dec 3, 1940
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Paul L. McManis
Sep 28, 1941
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John E. Ruch
Mar 4, 1942
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Vance M. Andrews
Nov 21, 1945
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James P. Gardner
Feb 28, 1948
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Harry D. Grimes
Jun 8, 1952
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James A. Fredericka
May 8, 1953
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Earl W. Casterline
Oct 19, 1953
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Frank J. Hossler
Sep 22, 1956
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Robert E. Karsmizki
Mar 31, 1957
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Ernest E. Cole
Oct 3, 1964
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Jon D. Birchem
Feb 27, 1967
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Harold K. Hanning
Aug 6, 1970
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James A. Kirkendall
Oct 28, 1970
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Joel F. Miller
Dec 6, 1971
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Carl L. Thrush
Feb 6, 1972
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William J. Keller
Oct 14, 1972
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David L. Sterner
Feb 25, 1973
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Jerry Ray Neff
Jan 30, 1974
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Edward G. Moore
Jul 23, 1976
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Charles V. Vogel, Jr.
Jan 24, 1980
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William R. Bender
Nov 20, 1982
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Jody S. Dye
Jul 5, 1985
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Wendy G. Everett
Aug 5, 1988
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Kenneth A. Maloney
Jul 28, 1990
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James R. Gross
Jan 19, 1996
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Robert Perez, Jr.
May 15, 2000
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Frank Galvan Vazquez
Nov 6, 2001
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Dale Rodney Holcomb
Sep 28, 2006
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Joshua Patrick Risner
Sep 28, 2006
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Jack P. Holland, II
Aug 21, 2007
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Andrew C. Baldridge
Feb 4, 2010
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Michael Allyn Paris, Sr.
Aug 1, 2012
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Kenneth V. Velez
Sep 15, 2016
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Nicholas P. Cayton
Oct 16, 2025
Where
Military Service
Nicholas P. Cayton served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Nicholas P. Cayton’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
41 officers from Ohio State Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
