Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Lee Russell and Detective Matt Blansett of the Marion County Sheriff's Department were killed in a helicopter crash on Aetna Mountain in Marion County at about 4:00 pm.
The Bell 206 helicopter struck high-tension power lines and crashed into a wooded area near mile marker 163 adjacent to I-24 and SR-134.
Sergeant Russell had served with the Tennessee Highway Patrol for 12 years and was assigned to the Special Opts Aviation Unit.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, brother, and grandmother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-E31F1A79- 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.
Sergeant Russell gave the Tennessee Highway Patrol 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Tennessee. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Russell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Harold Lee Russell, II 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 TN, 191 of 769 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Tennessee Highway Patrol, 30 of 41 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 73.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Harold Lee Russell, II's cause is highlighted.
How Harold Lee Russell, II Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Harold Lee Russell, II is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
40 officers from Tennessee Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
