Roll of Honor
Luke Douglas Nihart
Incident
Natural Resources Officer Luke Nihart was killed in an ATV crash while working at the Country Stampede music festival at Tuttle Creek State Park.
He was entering the parking area of a Department of Wildlife and Parks office when his ATV flipped over at approximately 3:20 am. He was transported to Mercy Regional Health Center, where he succumbed to his injuries two hours later.
Officer Nihart had served with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks for 11 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two young children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-22A3C65D- 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.
Natural Resources Officer Nihart gave the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Topeka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Natural Resources Officer Nihart.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Natural Resources Officer Luke Douglas Nihart 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 KS, 66 of 335 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 19.7% of this state's fallen. That is 11.3 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism - Law Enforcement Division, 1 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Luke Douglas Nihart's cause is highlighted.
How Luke Douglas Nihart Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Luke Douglas Nihart is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism - Law Enforcement Division are honored on badge.nw.
