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Incident
Location: Pennsylvania Incident Date: Thursday, July 18, 1935
Detective Frank Bell succumbed to injuries sustained the previous day when he fell underneath a train that he was attempting to board in Sayre, Pennsylvania.
He was attempting to the board a coach car as the train moved slowly passed the Sayre train station in order to ride it to Burdett, New York, where he had been stationed for several days due to a flood. Both of his feet fell beneath the train and were severed. He was taken to a local hospital where he died the following day after undergoing several blood transfusions.
Detective Bell had served with the Lehigh Valley Railroad Police Department for 25 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and adopted daughter.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
25 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Bell gave the Lehigh Valley Railroad Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Bethlehem community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Bell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Lehigh Valley Railroad Police Department has lost 6 officers; 3 of them lost to accidents.
Frank is one of 417 officers lost to accidents in PA, 33% of the 1,262 remembered there.
Frank is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Frank 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 1935, 9 officers in PA were lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 133 years on record. The heaviest was 1932, with 14.
In 1935, 99 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 8th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1935, 107 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Frank was 63. Of the 412 lost to accidents in PA whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48.3; the middle age was 38. Frank had served 25 years; the middle length of service was 8.6 years.
Frank was 63. 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. Frank had served 25 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Frank was 63. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Frank had served 25 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 9.4% of these deaths in PA; October holds the most, 10.6%. Fridays: 13.9%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 15.1%.
July holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15%.
How
Accident deaths account for 50% of all 6 deaths at Lehigh Valley Railroad Police Department, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 33% of all 1,262 deaths in PA, 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
Lehigh Valley Railroad Police Department has 6 officers remembered here, Frank among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Lehigh Valley Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
