Roll of Honor
Incident
Private Joseph Williams and Private Charles Craven, of the Pennsylvania Highway Patrol, were struck and killed by a vehicle while performing vehicle inspections on U.S. Route 30 near Gettysburg at approximately 11:50 P.M. While both officers were out of their patrol vehicle, another vehicle struck them both. Both officers were taken to Annie M. Warner Hospital. Private Williams was pronounced dead on arrival and Private Craven succumbed to his injuries three days later. Private Williams had been with the agency for only six months and was survived by his mother. He is buried in Sylvan Heights Cemetery, North Union Township, Fayette County.
Survivors
Private Williams had been with the agency for only six months and was survived by his mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-15D80F11- 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.
Private Williams served with the Pennsylvania Motor Police.
Thank you for your service to the Harrisburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Private Williams.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Private Joseph Martin Williams 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 PA, 417 of 1,261 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Pennsylvania Motor Police, 6 of 9 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. Joseph Martin Williams's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Martin Williams Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Martin Williams is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Pennsylvania Motor Police are honored on badge.nw.
