Incident
Trooper Kelly Poynter was struck and killed by a drunk driver while working a crash scene on U.S. Route 63 in Texas County, Missouri.
When he noticed the vehicle heading his way, he pushed some of the men out of the way. He was killed instantly.
The 39-year-old driver of the vehicle that struck Trooper Poynter was intoxicated and driving at a high rate of speed. She was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter. The suspect was sentenced to 7 years but released after serving a court-ordered 120 days for completing an alcohol treatment program. The judge in the case set the sentence up this way because the driver's blood alcohol level was 0.07. In Missouri, it has to be 0.08 or more to be legally under the influence.
Trooper Poynter had served with the Missouri State Highway Patrol for six years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two young sons.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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 Poynter gave the Missouri State Highway Patrol 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Missouri. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Poynter.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Missouri State Highway Patrol has lost 33 officers; 13 of them killed feloniously.
Kelly is one of 527 officers killed feloniously in MO, 63.6% of the 829 remembered there.
Kelly is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Kelly is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2002, 1 officer at Missouri State Highway Patrol was killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 1941, with 2.
In 2002, 3 officers in MO were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 146 years on record. The heaviest was 1920, with 16.
In 2002, 73 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 96th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2002, 78 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 96th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Kelly was 27. Of the 13 killed feloniously at Missouri State Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 37; the middle age was 33. Kelly had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
Kelly was 27. Of the 477 killed feloniously in MO whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 39. Kelly had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Kelly was 27. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Kelly had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Kelly was 27. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Kelly had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 7.7% of these deaths at Missouri State Highway Patrol; October holds the most, 23.1%. Fridays: 7.7%.
January holds 7.8% of these deaths in MO; December holds the most, 11%. Fridays: 12.5%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 39.4% of all 33 deaths at Missouri State Highway Patrol, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile; alcohol involved, in 7.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.6% of all 829 deaths in MO, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile; alcohol involved, in 0.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile; alcohol involved, in 1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile; alcohol involved, in 0.9% of these deaths.
His people
Missouri State Highway Patrol has 33 officers remembered here, Kelly among them.
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Benjamin Oliver Booth
Jun 14, 1933
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Fred L. Walker
Dec 3, 1941
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Victor O. Dosing
Dec 7, 1941
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Charles P. Corbin
Sep 15, 1943
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Ross S. Creach
Dec 12, 1943
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John N. Greim
Jul 13, 1945
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Wayne W. Allman
Oct 27, 1955
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Jesse Roger Jenkins
Oct 14, 1969
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Gary Wayne Snodgrass
Feb 21, 1970
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William R. Brandt
Jun 12, 1970
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Dennis Harris Marriott
Jun 13, 1981
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James M. Froemsdorf
Mar 2, 1985
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Jimmie Elliott Linegar
Apr 15, 1985
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Russell Wynn Harper
Feb 8, 1987
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Henry Corwin Bruns
Feb 16, 1987
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Robert Joseph Kolilis
Sep 21, 1988
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Michael Elliott Webster
Oct 2, 1993
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Randy Vincent Sullivan
Feb 17, 1996
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David Cargene May
May 17, 1999
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Robert Gene Kimberling
Oct 6, 1999
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Robert Alton Guilliams
Feb 16, 2001
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Kelly Leland Poynter
Jan 18, 2002
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Michael Lynn Newton
May 22, 2003
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Carl Dewayne Graham, Jr.
Mar 20, 2005
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Ralph Charles Tatoian
Apr 20, 2005
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John Anthony Sampietro, Jr.
Aug 17, 2005
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Donald Kevin Floyd
Sep 22, 2005
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Dennis Edward Engelhard
Dec 25, 2009
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Joseph George Schuengel
Oct 15, 2010
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Frederick Freeman Guthrie, Jr.
Aug 1, 2011
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James Matthew Bava
Aug 28, 2015
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Myron Downey
Sep 29, 2020
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Lonnie Raymond Lejeune
Dec 10, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 18-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
32 officers from Missouri State Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















