Roll of Honor
Karl S. Zimmerman
Incident
Special Investigator Karl Zimmerman and Special Investigator Elgin McDonough were killed in a vehicle crash on U.S. 16 one-half mile east of Webberville.
Their automobile collided with the back of an unlit horse-drawn wagon while they were en route from Lansing to Macomb County as part of an ongoing investigation. Both investigators suffered fatal injuries. The farmer driving the wagon was injured.
Investigator Zimmerman was a U.S. Army veteran of WWI and had only served with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for three days.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-73BE45A1- 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 Karl. 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Special Investigator Zimmerman served with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Thank you for your service to the Lansing community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Karl S. Zimmerman served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Special Investigator Karl S. Zimmerman 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 MI, 229 of 718 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.9% of this state's fallen. That is 0.9 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Michigan Department of Natural Resources, 10 of 15 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Karl S. Zimmerman's cause is highlighted.
How Karl S. Zimmerman Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Karl S. Zimmerman is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Michigan Department of Natural Resources are honored on badge.nw.
