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Incident
Officer Ryan Cunningham was killed after falling from a 60-foot highway overpass while avoiding being struck by a semi.
He and another officer were investigating an accident at 5 am on I-70 at Vail Pass, which was icy at the time. The two officers ran to the shoulder of the overpass as a tractor-trailer lost control to avoid being hit. Officer Cunningham jumped over the rail and fell to the ground below. The other officer, who stayed on the bridge, was uninjured.
Officer Cunningham had served with the Vail Police Department for 16 months.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and infant daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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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
You barely got started.
Police Officer Cunningham gave the Vail Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Vail community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Cunningham.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Ryan is the only officer of Vail Police Department remembered here.
Ryan is one of 101 officers lost to accidents in CO, 28% of the 361 remembered there.
Ryan is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Ryan is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2001, 4 officers in CO were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
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.
In 2001, 89 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 39th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Ryan was 27. Of the 79 lost to accidents in CO whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 37. Ryan had served 1.3 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Ryan was 27. 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. Ryan had served 1.3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ryan was 27. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Ryan had served 1.3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 10.9% of these deaths in CO; July holds the most, 11.9%. Sundays: 5.9%.
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.
May holds 8.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at Vail Police Department.
Accident deaths account for 28% of all 361 deaths in CO, 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 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Vail Police Department are honored on badge.nw.