Incident
Trooper Luke was killed in an automobile accident while pursuing a traffic violator. He swerved to avoid several deer in the roadway and his cruiser went over an embankment and into the Sevier River. His body was found floating approximately 50 feet away from his partially submerged cruiser. Trooper Luke had served with the agency for 23 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
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
23 years. You could have gone home.
Trooper Luke gave the Utah Highway Patrol 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of Utah. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Luke.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Utah Highway Patrol has lost 16 officers; 9 of them lost to accidents.
Armond is one of 49 officers lost to accidents in UT, 35.5% of the 138 remembered there.
Armond is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Armond 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 1959, 1 officer at Utah Highway Patrol was lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 8 years on record. The heaviest was 1994, with 2.
In 1959, 2 officers in UT were lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 42 years on record. The heaviest was 1987, with 3.
In 1959, 58 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 77th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1959, 67 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 79th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Armond was 54. Of the 9 lost to accidents at Utah Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 52; the middle age was 39. Armond had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 12 years.
Armond was 54. Of the 48 lost to accidents in UT whose age is recorded, half were between 31.5 and 51.3; the middle age was 37.5. Armond had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Armond 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. Armond had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Armond was 54. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Armond had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 11.1% of these deaths at Utah Highway Patrol; October holds the most, 11.1%. Thursdays: 11.1%.
December holds 2% of these deaths in UT; July holds the most, 14.3%. Thursdays: 14.3%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 56.3% of all 16 deaths at Utah Highway Patrol, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 22.2% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 35.5% of all 138 deaths in UT, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 6.1% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 6.9% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 5.6% of these deaths.
His people
Utah Highway Patrol has 16 officers remembered here, Armond among them.
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George Edwin Van Wagenen
May 23, 1931
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Armond A. Luke
Dec 3, 1959
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George Dee Rees
Jul 2, 1960
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John R. Winn
Sep 22, 1971
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William John Antoniewicz
Dec 8, 1974
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Robert Bay Hutchings
Jul 20, 1976
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Ray Lynn Pierson
Nov 7, 1978
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Daniel W. Harris
Aug 25, 1982
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Joseph Samuel Brumett, III
Dec 11, 1992
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Dennis Lavelle Lund
Jun 16, 1993
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Charles D. Warren
May 16, 1994
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Doyle Reed Thorne
Jul 30, 1994
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Randy K. Ingram
Oct 5, 1994
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Thomas Sumner Rettberg
Feb 11, 2000
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Aaron Robert Beesley
Jun 30, 2012
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Eric Dale Ellsworth
Nov 22, 2016
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 50-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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