Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Sam Tidwell was killed when his motorcycle was struck by a vehicle that was attempting to pass another vehicle at 11:15 a.m.
Deputy Tidwell was traveling east on Highway 4, one mile west of Donna, when he collided head-on with a vehicle that swerved into the passing lane. He was killed instantly.
The driver was initially charged with negligent homicide but was exonerated.
Deputy Tidwell was a United States World War I Army veteran and had served with the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office for five years. He previously served as a constable with the Weslaco Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-58E2C900- 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 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.
Deputy Sheriff Tidwell gave the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Edinburg 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
Samuel R. Tidwell served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Samuel R. Tidwell 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 TX, 653 of 2,421 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 6 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel R. Tidwell's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel R. Tidwell Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel R. Tidwell is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
