James Read Hughes
Agency patch
Trooper

James Read Hughes

Virginia State Police — North Chesterfield, VA
Accident
End of Watch June 3, 1974
Age 28
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 249 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper James Hughes was struck and killed by a tractor trailer during a traffic stop on I-95 near Lorton, in Fairfax County. He was speaking with the driver of the vehicle he had stopped when a tractor trailer struck him and the vehicle. The driver of the truck was arrested and charged with manslaughter and reckless driving. Trooper Hughes was working on his day off and was not being paid at the time of the accident. He had served with the Virginia State Police for three years.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Hughes gave the Virginia State Police 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Hughes.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type State Police
Location North Chesterfield, VA
Platform Identity vsp.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 3, 1974
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

James is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1974, 98 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 28. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. James had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

June holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Virginia State Police has 52 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Trooper James Read Hughes

Virginia State Police · End of Watch June 3, 1974

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 63-E

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