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Incident
Sergeant Thorne was killed when his helicopter crashed while he was searching for a two-year-old girl. After the girl was located Sergeant Thorne started returning to Salt Lake City when he radioed in a distress call and disappeared from radar. The wreckage was located three days later. Sergeant Thorne was a Vietnam War veteran and had been with the agency for 19 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.
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 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.
Sergeant Thorne gave the Utah Highway Patrol 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Utah, and 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
Doyle Reed Thorne served in the the United States military (1966â1976) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Utah Highway Patrol has lost 16 officers; 9 of them lost to accidents.
Doyle is one of 49 officers lost to accidents in UT, 35.5% of the 138 remembered there.
Doyle is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Doyle 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 1994, 2 officers at Utah Highway Patrol were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1994, 2 officers in UT were lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 42 years on record. The heaviest was 1987, with 3.
In 1994, 81 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 26th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1994, 105 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 15th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Doyle was 52. Of the 9 lost to accidents at Utah Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 52; the middle age was 39. Doyle had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 12 years.
Doyle was 52. Of the 48 lost to accidents in UT whose age is recorded, half were between 31.5 and 51.3; the middle age was 37.5. Doyle had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Doyle was 52. 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. Doyle had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Doyle was 52. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Doyle had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 11.1% of these deaths at Utah Highway Patrol; October holds the most, 11.1%. Saturdays: 33.3%.
July holds 14.3% of these deaths in UT, more than any other month. Saturdays: 24.5%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 14.9%.
July holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 14.7%.
How
Accident deaths account for 56.3% of all 16 deaths at Utah Highway Patrol, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 35.5% of all 138 deaths in UT, 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
Utah Highway Patrol has 16 officers remembered here, Doyle among them.
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George Edwin Van Wagenen
May 23, 1931
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Armond A. Luke
Dec 3, 1959
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George Dee Rees
Jul 2, 1960
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John R. Winn
Sep 22, 1971
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William John Antoniewicz
Dec 8, 1974
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Robert Bay Hutchings
Jul 20, 1976
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Ray Lynn Pierson
Nov 7, 1978
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Daniel W. Harris
Aug 25, 1982
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Joseph Samuel Brumett, III
Dec 11, 1992
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Dennis Lavelle Lund
Jun 16, 1993
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Charles D. Warren
May 16, 1994
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Doyle Reed Thorne
Jul 30, 1994
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Randy K. Ingram
Oct 5, 1994
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Thomas Sumner Rettberg
Feb 11, 2000
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Aaron Robert Beesley
Jun 30, 2012
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Eric Dale Ellsworth
Nov 22, 2016
Military Service
Doyle Reed Thorne served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1966–1976) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Doyle Reed Thorne’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 25-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Utah Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw.
