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Incident
Trooper Sean O'Connell was killed when his motorcycle was struck by another vehicle as he controlled traffic in Conway, Washington.
He was struck near the intersection of Fir Island Road and Main Street and knocked to the ground at approximately 5:45 pm. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Trooper O'Connell was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Washington State Patrol for 15 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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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. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Sean 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 O'Connell gave the Washington State Patrol 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Washington. 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
Sean Michael O'Connell Jr. served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Washington State Patrol has lost 34 officers; 23 of them lost to accidents.
Sean is one of 111 officers lost to accidents in WA, 32.6% of the 340 remembered there.
Sean is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Sean 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 2013, 1 officer at Washington State Patrol was lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 20 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 2.
In 2013, 1 officer in WA was lost to accidents, the 30th heaviest of 70 years on record. The heaviest was 1968, with 5.
In 2013, 56 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 83rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2013, 64 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 85th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Sean was 38. Of the 14 lost to accidents at Washington State Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 39; the middle age was 38. Sean had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6.5 years.
Sean was 38. Of the 92 lost to accidents in WA whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 46.3; the middle age was 38. Sean had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Sean was 38. 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. Sean had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Sean was 38. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Sean had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 17.4% of these deaths at Washington State Patrol; March holds the most, 26.1%. Fridays: 17.4%.
May holds 7.2% of these deaths in WA; November holds the most, 15.3%. Fridays: 18%.
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 15.1%.
May holds 8.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15%.
How
Accident deaths account for 67.6% of all 34 deaths at Washington State Patrol, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 32.6% of all 340 deaths in WA, 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
Washington State Patrol has 34 officers remembered here, Sean among them.
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Vernon G. Fortin
Sep 30, 1923
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Irving M. Thorsvig
Oct 26, 1926
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Conard C. Tolson
Mar 24, 1929
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Henry Douglas Cossmann
Oct 9, 1929
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William H. Pautzke
May 8, 1930
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Loren G. Ray
Dec 16, 1934
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Allen E. Ludden
Mar 15, 1938
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John H. Gulden
Dec 23, 1942
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Thomas J. Hanlin
May 26, 1945
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Paul H. Johnson
Dec 12, 1949
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Ivan Belka
Aug 18, 1951
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Donald R. Campbell
Dec 21, 1951
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John F. Wright
Jun 28, 1953
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Eugene A. Bolstad
Sep 3, 1957
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Ernest E. Eichhorn
Sep 16, 1958
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Wesley H. Whittenberg
Dec 29, 1960
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Clarence C. Johnson
Sep 8, 1968
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Charles Frank Noble
Feb 5, 1972
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Joseph B. Modlin
Aug 15, 1974
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Thomas L. Hendrickson
Nov 17, 1974
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Glenda Darlene Thomas
May 24, 1985
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James S. Gain
Mar 2, 1987
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Clifford R. Hansell
Jul 22, 1987
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Raymond L. Hawn
Jan 17, 1990
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Steven Lee Frink
Mar 22, 1993
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James E. Saunders
Oct 7, 1999
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Tony Vian Radulescu
Feb 23, 2012
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Sean Michael O'Connell, Jr.
May 31, 2013
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Brent L. Hanger
Aug 6, 2015
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Suzanne Padgett
Sep 4, 2018
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Justin Robert Schaffer
Mar 24, 2020
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Eric Thomas Gunderson
Sep 26, 2021
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Christopher M. Gadd
Mar 2, 2024
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Tara-Marysa Guting
Dec 19, 2025
Where
Military Service
Sean Michael O'Connell Jr. served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
Visit Sean Michael O'Connell Jr.’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
33 officers from Washington State Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
