Incident
Officer Vargas was killed in a motorcycle crash while on patrol in a residential area in Santa Clara around 7:45 p.m.
Another vehicle suddenly turned in front of him while he was driving on Santa Clara - Saratoga Road (present-day Saratoga Avenue) near Meridian Corners (present-day Stevens Creek Boulevard), causing a collision. He was transported to Santa Clara County Hospital (present-day Santa Clara Valley Medical Center), where he succumbed to his injuries the next day.
Officer Vargas had served with the California Highway Patrol for almost four years.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
NW-3GXS-QFAV-Bearlier record number BO-US-CA-FBB34569- Stewardship
- 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.
Officer Vargas gave the California Highway Patrol 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Vargas.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
California Highway Patrol has lost 234 officers; 152 of them lost to accidents.
Ralph is one of 720 officers lost to accidents in CA, 39.2% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Ralph is one of 8,274 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,543 remembered there.
Ralph is one of 10,099 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,910 remembered here.
33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1952, 2 officers at California Highway Patrol were lost to accidents, the 24th heaviest of 75 years on record. The heaviest was 1964, with 8.
In 1952, 7 officers in CA were lost to accidents, the 33rd heaviest of 128 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 14.
In 1952, 52 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 90th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1952, 65 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 83rd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Ralph was 26. Of the 150 lost to accidents at California Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 40; the middle age was 35. Ralph had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ralph was 26. Of the 690 lost to accidents in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 42.8; the middle age was 35. Ralph had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Ralph was 26. Of the 7,715 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Ralph had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ralph was 26. Of the 9,448 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Ralph had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 8.6% of these deaths at California Highway Patrol; February holds the most, 12.5%. Tuesdays: 16.4%.
September holds 8.9% of these deaths in CA; August holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 16.3%.
September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
How
Accident deaths account for 65% of all 234 deaths at California Highway Patrol, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 39.2% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,910 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
California Highway Patrol has at least 120 officers remembered here, Ralph among them.
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Howard Garlinger
Oct 30, 1929
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Edgar J. Combs
Sep 9, 1930
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Elber Dell Warren
Jan 24, 1931
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Burt Reeves
Sep 22, 1931
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J. W. Shuman
Mar 1, 1932
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Edwin B. Crook
Jul 8, 1932
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A. Edward Hinck
Aug 14, 1932
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Floyd A. Russell
Jan 15, 1933
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Thomas C. Bisset
Jan 26, 1933
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Jarvis Sherman Davis
Mar 10, 1933
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Stephen Samuel Kent
Mar 10, 1933
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John A. Daroux
Mar 12, 1933
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Jack E. Marks
Apr 11, 1933
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Oscar D. McMurry
Mar 5, 1934
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Francis J. Perry
Jul 7, 1934
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Hugh C. Cline
Aug 26, 1934
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Albert Donald Hoover
Aug 31, 1934
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William R. McDaniel
Oct 6, 1934
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Edward Leon Bond
Apr 14, 1935
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Ivan Casselman
Aug 24, 1935
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Charles H. Nissen
Dec 17, 1935
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Earle M. Ames
Dec 11, 1936
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Richard H. Trembath
Dec 4, 1937
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E. R. Carr
Jan 27, 1938
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Leonard Nelson
May 18, 1938
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Earl L. Shryver
Jul 10, 1938
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Fred J. Kowolowski
Dec 26, 1938
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Joseph B. Mathews
Aug 10, 1939
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Ernest R. Nelson
Aug 29, 1939
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Samuel G. Cope, Sr.
Jan 16, 1940
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William F. Malin
Jul 4, 1940
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Maurice W. Owen
Sep 22, 1940
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Marion Paul Mengedoth
Feb 7, 1941
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Leslie Lauterwasser
Jun 27, 1941
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Robert C. Heller
Jan 12, 1942
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Scott Leatherman
May 3, 1942
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Eliot O. Daley
May 17, 1942
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Clinton George Benjamin
Aug 10, 1942
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Joseph A. Stucker
Jan 7, 1943
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Walter Charles Maxey
Feb 2, 1943
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Frederick Wales
Feb 7, 1943
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George E. Ellis, Jr.
Apr 21, 1943
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Nelson S. Dwelly
Jul 10, 1943
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Forrest C. Gerken
Feb 15, 1944
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Forest Underwood
Mar 9, 1944
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John A. Reed
May 18, 1944
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Lewis Willis Gregg
Nov 4, 1944
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George A. Humburg, Jr.
Nov 29, 1944
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David R. Henderson
Dec 7, 1944
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Raymond Henry Berry
Apr 8, 1945
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Norman A. Kessler
May 17, 1945
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James B. Dalziel
Jun 30, 1945
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James H. Vande Weg
Jul 12, 1945
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Harold E. Nichols
Sep 12, 1945
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Loren Cornwell Roosevelt
Jun 5, 1946
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Frank J. Maus
Jul 14, 1946
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Stephen W. Sodel
Sep 17, 1946
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Richard L. Simpson
Sep 25, 1946
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William L. Reardon
Oct 20, 1946
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John R. Walters
Nov 18, 1947
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Alvin Leroy Foss
Apr 26, 1950
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J. Harold Hanson
Aug 19, 1951
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William C. Foote
Jun 23, 1952
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Ralph A. Vargas
Sep 30, 1952
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John Walter Armatoski
May 1, 1953
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Frank M. Epperson
Jul 2, 1954
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William McCrea Chansler
Aug 27, 1954
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John Calvin LaMar
Dec 10, 1954
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James E. Maroney
May 27, 1955
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Charles D. Goss
Nov 25, 1955
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George A. Woodson
Dec 23, 1955
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Edward A. Frey
Jul 2, 1956
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Raymond A. Geiger
Aug 10, 1956
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Charles Taylor Smith
Sep 9, 1956
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Elza P. Fitzpatrick, Jr.
Dec 6, 1956
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Carl H. Jessing
Jan 9, 1957
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Robert E. Reed
Oct 8, 1957
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Camile Edward Madere, Jr.
Jan 24, 1958
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Robert W. Suess
Feb 15, 1958
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Joseph F. Johnston, Jr.
Oct 12, 1958
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Robert B. Heberlie
Nov 22, 1958
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Herbert F. Dimon
Feb 7, 1959
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George E. Kallemeyn
Jul 21, 1959
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Leonard W. Winney
Nov 12, 1959
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Richard D. Duvall, Sr.
Feb 23, 1960
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Robert D. Dale
Mar 10, 1960
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William Pitois
Nov 4, 1960
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Gary L. Grow
Jan 18, 1962
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Jerry E. Turre
Apr 21, 1962
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Dale M. Krings
May 21, 1962
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Ronald E. Davis
Aug 18, 1962
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Charles H. Sorenson
Mar 15, 1963
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Donald E. Brandon
Apr 23, 1963
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John R. Ellis
Nov 5, 1963
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Glenn W. Carlson
Nov 15, 1963
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Merle E. DeWitt
Dec 25, 1963
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Ralph A. Minion
Jan 6, 1964
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William D. Huckaby
Jan 12, 1964
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Kenneth L. Witke
Jan 14, 1964
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Coburn B. Jewell
Feb 1, 1964
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James F. Stamback
Mar 23, 1964
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Charles O. Woodworth
Aug 12, 1964
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Leonard L. Layton
Nov 8, 1964
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Jerrel H. Shows, Sr.
Dec 23, 1964
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Merrel L. Kissinger
Feb 14, 1965
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Martin J. Tripptree
Dec 15, 1965
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Michael S. Griffin
Jan 13, 1966
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William C. Isaacs
Aug 25, 1966
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Franke Arthur Story
Jul 19, 1967
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Charles R. Lilly
Oct 29, 1967
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Merle Lee Andrews
Dec 20, 1967
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Kenneth E. Marshall
Jan 9, 1968
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Wesley D. Johnson
Apr 15, 1969
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Richard G. Woods
Jul 16, 1969
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Robert M. Blomo
Sep 4, 1969
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Ambers O. Shewmaker
Nov 24, 1969
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William Robert Court
Feb 13, 1970
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Raymond R. Carpenter
Feb 17, 1970
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Walter C. Frago
Apr 5, 1970
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Roger D. Gore
Apr 5, 1970
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 21-W
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