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Incident
Sergeant David May was killed in a police helicopter crash while following the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics. Witnesses stated that the tail rotor on the chopper stopped turning, causing him to lose control of the helicopter, which went into a spin and crashed.
The passenger in the helicopter, a Special Olympics photographer, was also killed.
Sergeant May had served with the Missouri State Highway Patrol for 18 years. He had been a pilot for the Missouri State Highway Patrol since 1990.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant May gave the Missouri State Highway Patrol 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Missouri. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant May.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Missouri State Highway Patrol has lost 33 officers; 18 of them lost to accidents.
David is one of 242 officers lost to accidents in MO, 29.2% of the 829 remembered there.
David is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
David is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1999, 1 officer at Missouri State Highway Patrol was lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 15 years on record. The heaviest was 2005, with 3.
In 1999, 2 officers in MO were lost to accidents, the 36th heaviest of 112 years on record. The heaviest was 1923, with 8.
In 1999, 71 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 44th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1999, 78 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 61st heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
David was 41. Of the 18 lost to accidents at Missouri State Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 26.8 and 41; the middle age was 36. David had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 13 years.
David was 41. Of the 226 lost to accidents in MO whose age is recorded, half were between 26 and 42; the middle age was 33. David had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
David was 41. 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. David had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
David was 41. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. David had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 11.1% of these deaths at Missouri State Highway Patrol; February holds the most, 22.2%. Mondays: 16.7%.
May holds 9.9% of these deaths in MO; August holds the most, 12.8%. Mondays: 15.7%.
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.
May holds 8.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 54.5% of all 33 deaths at Missouri State Highway Patrol, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.2% of all 829 deaths in MO, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Missouri State Highway Patrol has 33 officers remembered here, David 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 59-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.
