Robert Wright Smith
Agency patch
Trooper

Robert Wright Smith

Virginia State Police — North Chesterfield, VA
Accident
End of Watch November 21, 1951
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Robert Smith was killed when his patrol car skidded into a Norfolk and Western Railroad passenger train at the crossing on Route 600 in Pamplin in Appomattox County, Virginia.

Survivors

Trooper Smith was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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 Smith served with the Virginia State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Smith.

— 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 November 21, 1951
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Robert is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1951, 70 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 48th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert was 37. 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.

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

When

November holds 8.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

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, Robert among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Trooper Robert Wright Smith

Virginia State Police · End of Watch November 21, 1951

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 62-E

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