Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman James Karl succumbed to burns sustained while attempting to rescue the driver of a gasoline truck that had crashed into the Belt Line Railroad Viaduct at 4600 West 16th Street.
Gasoline leaked from the truck and pooled around a stalled car. When the driver of the car attempted to start it, the gasoline was ignited and caused the gas truck to explode. The driver of the truck and Patrolman Karl, who was attempting to pull him from the truck, both suffered fatal burns. Seventee other bystanders also sustained injuries from the explosion.
Patrolman Karl was taken to a local hospital where he died the following day.
Patrolman Karl was survived by his wife, two children, and parents.
Survivors
Patrolman Karl was survived by his wife, two children, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-110EC835- Stewardship
- 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.
Patrolman Karl served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Karl.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman James G. Karl is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In IL, 354 of 1,318 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 26.9% of this state's fallen. That is 26.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Chicago Police Department, 107 of 571 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 18.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James G. Karl's cause is highlighted.
How James G. Karl Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James G. Karl is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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