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Incident
Deputy Sheriff John Kormelink was killed in a vehicle crash at the intersection of State Road 54 and State Route 67 in Switz City.
He and another deputy were transporting three prisoners to the state penal farm in Putnamville and the state boy's school in Plainfield. Their patrol car collided with a bus, killing Deputy Kormelink and seriously injuring his partner, one of the prisoners, and the bus driver.
Deputy Kormelink was survived by his wife, daughter, son, father, and two brothers.
Survivors
Deputy Kormelink was survived by his wife, daughter, son, father, and two brothers.
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 Kormelink served with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Evansville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Kormelink.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office has lost 3 officers; 1 of them lost to accidents.
John is one of 151 officers lost to accidents in IN, 30% of the 503 remembered there.
John is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
John 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 1940, 2 officers in IN were lost to accidents, the 18th heaviest of 85 years on record. The heaviest was 1942, with 4.
In 1940, 67 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 59th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1940, 107 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
John was 38. Of the 149 lost to accidents in IN whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 47; the middle age was 36.
John 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.
John 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.
When
May holds 9.3% of these deaths in IN; December holds the most, 11.3%. Saturdays: 15.2%.
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 14.9%.
May holds 8.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 14.7%.
How
Accident deaths account for 33.3% of all 3 deaths at Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 503 deaths in IN, 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
Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office has 3 officers remembered here, John 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
2 officers from Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
