Joseph A. Ynostroza

Colorado State Patrol — Lakewood, CO

Veteran → Accident

End of Watch December 6, 1989

Age 44

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

The Vigil Panel 135 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 29

Incident

Trooper Joseph Ynostroza was killed in an automobile crash on U.S. Route 160 near Alamosa while en route to Cortez from Denver. During the drive, his patrol car veered into oncoming traffic and was struck head-on by a tractor-trailer. Although he was wearing his seat belt and his airbag deployed, the force of the impact was so severe it caused fatal injuries. Trooper Ynostroza had served with the Colorado State Patrol for 16 years. He was survived by his wife and three children. His son later went on to serve in the same agency.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CO-3C55E419
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Joseph is one person.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Ynostroza gave the Colorado State Patrol 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Colorado. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Ynostroza.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Colorado State Patrol

Type Highway Patrol

Location Lakewood, CO

Platform Identity chp.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 6, 1989

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Age 44

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Joseph A. Ynostroza served in the U.S. Army (1964â1967) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Trooper Joseph A. Ynostroza 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 CO, 101 of 360 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.1% of this state's fallen. That is 28.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Colorado State Patrol, 19 of 30 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 63.3% of this agency's fallen.

Colorado State Patrol

of 30 officers

63.3% Accident

CO — Statewide

101

of 360 officers

28.1% Accident

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Accident