Roll of Honor
Ralph George Zerda
Incident
Trooper Ralph Zerda and Sergeant William Kuhnle were killed when a drunk truck driver crashed his tractor-trailer into their parked patrol car at 3:00 am. The officers were parked on the shoulder of westbound US 9 near Road 1604 after stopping another drunk driver. They were crushed between their patrol vehicle and the vehicle they had stopped. The drunk driver was sentenced to two concurrent 10-year sentences in prison but was released after serving only four years. Trooper Zerda had served with the Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-2A86115E- 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.
Trooper Zerda gave the Texas Department of Public Safety 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Texas. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Zerda.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper Ralph George Zerda is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, 35 of 95 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ralph George Zerda's cause is highlighted.
How Ralph George Zerda Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 10 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ralph George Zerda is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ralph George Zerda was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
94 officers from Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
