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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Oran Blasingame and Chief Deputy Leonard Taylor were killed in a vehicle crash on US Highway 64, six miles west of Selmer.
Chief Deputy Taylor and Deputy Blasingame were passengers in a vehicle being driven by a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agent en route to Memphis to interview two juveniles suspected of being in a series of burglaries in the county. Their car struck a logging truck that made a left turn in front of them.
A citizen that they were going to drop off at a Memphis hospital was also killed in the crash.
Deputy Blasingame was survived by his wife, two children, and a grandchild.
Survivors
Deputy Blasingame was survived by his wife, two children, and a grandchild.
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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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Blasingame served with the McNairy County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Selmer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Blasingame.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
McNairy County Sheriff's Office has lost 6 officers; 3 of them lost to accidents.
Oran is one of 191 officers lost to accidents in TN, 24.8% of the 769 remembered there.
Oran is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Oran 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 1959, 3 officers in TN were lost to accidents, the 11th heaviest of 99 years on record. The heaviest was 2000, with 6.
In 1959, 58 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 77th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1959, 67 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 79th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Oran was 43. Of the 183 lost to accidents in TN whose age is recorded, half were between 30.5 and 49; the middle age was 38.
Oran was 43. 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.
Oran was 43. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
May holds 11% of these deaths in TN; September holds the most, 11.5%. Mondays: 13.6%.
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.4%.
May holds 8.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 50% of all 6 deaths at McNairy County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 24.8% of all 769 deaths in TN, 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
McNairy County Sheriff's Office has 6 officers remembered here, Oran among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from McNairy County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
