Roll of Honor
James Donald Vaughn
Incident
Park Ranger James Vaughn was killed in a vehicle crash on Highway 99 (modern day I-5), approximately 12 miles north of Castaic, California, in Los Angeles County.
He was on official travel returning from the Yosemite Training School to his assignment at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona when another vehicle crossed the center line and struck his car head-on. Ranger Vaughn and two juveniles in the other vehicle were killed in the collision. Ranger Vaughn's wife, who was traveling with him, was injured.
Ranger Vaughn had served with the National Park Service for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-9DE1CB49- 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.
Park Ranger Vaughn gave the United States Department of the Interior 4 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Park Ranger Vaughn.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Park Ranger James Donald Vaughn 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 DC, 454 of 1,419 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service, 28 of 40 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 70% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Donald Vaughn's cause is highlighted.
How James Donald Vaughn Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Donald Vaughn is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
39 officers from United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
