Gary Lee Hughes

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA

Felonious

End of Watch May 23, 1976

Age 38

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Badge 3401

The Vigil Panel 117 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 232

Incident

Officer Gary Hughes was killed when his cruiser was struck from behind by a drunk driver. He and his partner had just arrested another drunk driver, and he and Officer Hughes were sitting in the back seat of his cruiser, which was still parked on the shoulder. The driver of a wrecker was preparing to tow the suspect's truck. A pickup truck driven by the second drunk driver swerved off the road and crushed the patrol car killing Officer Hughes and seriously injuring his partner, who was standing outside of the vehicle. The force of the impact slammed the patrol car into his partner and the wrecker driver, who died from injuries he received in a hospital a few days later. The drunk driver who was arrested first was slightly injured. The 27-year-old driver of the pickup truck was charged with felony drunk driving and two counts of manslaughter. Officer Hughes had been with the California Highway Patrol for 11 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-46AA23A9
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Gary. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Hughes gave the California Highway Patrol 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Hughes.

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

Agency

Department California Highway Patrol

Location Sacramento, CA

Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 23, 1976

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Age 38

Badge Number 3401

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Charged with manslaughter

Officer Gary Lee Hughes is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At California Highway Patrol, 71 of 233 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.5% of this agency's fallen.

California Highway Patrol

of 233 officers

30.5% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious