Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Francis Tessitore was struck and killed by a tractor trailer while arresting a man he had stopped for speeding in Chester County. Trooper Tessitore was standing behind the vehicle preparing his report when a 17-year-old truck driver, who had been behind the wheel for 23 straight hours, fell asleep, ran off the road, and struck the trooper and the driver he was arresting. Both were killed instantly. Trooper Tessitore was a U.S Navy Veteran of the Korean War and served with the Pennsylvania State Police for almost seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two daughters, parents, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-A4E3B707- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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.
Trooper Tessitore gave the Pennsylvania State Police 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Pennsylvania, 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
Francis Michael Tessitore served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Trooper Francis Michael Tessitore is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In PA, 417 of 1,261 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Pennsylvania State Police, 42 of 87 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 48.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Francis Michael Tessitore's cause is highlighted.
How Francis Michael Tessitore Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Francis Michael Tessitore is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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