Roll of Honor
Preston Boyd Parnell
Incident
Location: Alabama Incident Date: Thursday, January 25, 2007
Postal Inspector Preston Parnell succumbed to injuries sustained in an automobile crash on Highway 43, near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on January 25th, 2007.
He was conducting an investigation into a major check fraud case stemming from Hurricane Katrina with a special agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation when they were involved in the crash. The driver of another vehicle became distracted by a ringing cell phone and crashed into a car, which was then pushed into the path of their vehicle.
Inspector Parnell suffered severe head trauma, a broken neck, and other injuries. He never fully recovered and passed away as a result of the injuries on July 26th, 2012.
Inspector Parnell had served with the United States Postal Service for 16 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two sons, and his parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-5E0890FE- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Postal Inspector Parnell gave the United States Postal Inspection Service 16 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Postal Inspector Parnell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Postal Inspector Preston Boyd Parnell 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 VA, 203 of 654 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31% of this state's fallen.
At United States Postal Inspection Service, 8 of 14 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Preston Boyd Parnell's cause is highlighted.
How Preston Boyd Parnell Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Preston Boyd Parnell is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from United States Postal Inspection Service are honored on badge.nw.
