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Gary R. Wagers
Agency patch
Sergeant

Gary R. Wagers

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA
Accident
United States flag California flag
End of Watch March 15, 2001
Age 54
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
The Vigil Panel 329 · Column 4 · Line 1 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 233

Incident

Sergeant Gary Wagers was killed in a single-vehicle crash while on patrol on State Route 113, near I-5, in Yolo County.

He was last observed driving with his emergency equipment activated, and at some point, his patrol left an elevated freeway embankment and landed on its roof in a wooded area. His vehicle was discovered approximately four hours later by a commuter who noticed skid marks leading off the 25-foot embankment. Authorities were notified of the accident by the citizen.

He had been scheduled to get off duty at 3:45 am. The exact time of the accident was unknown because his last communication with dispatch was at midnight. Although Sergeant Wagers didn't check out at the end of his shift, no patrol vehicles were sent to check on him because it was common for him to work beyond the end of his scheduled shift.

Sergeant Wagers had served with the California Highway Patrol for 22 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and three grown children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

22 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Wagers gave the California Highway Patrol 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Wagers.

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

Agency

Department California Highway Patrol
Type Highway Patrol
Location Sacramento, CA
Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 15, 2001
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Gary 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.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 2001, 77 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 31st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Gary was 54. 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. Gary had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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

California Highway Patrol has at least 120 officers remembered here, Gary among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Sergeant Gary R. Wagers

California Highway Patrol · End of Watch March 15, 2001

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 21-E

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