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Incident
Master Trooper William Modén was struck and killed by a vehicle while assisting at the scene of an earlier crash on I-70 near mile marker 324 in Deer Trail, Colorado.
He was investigating an earlier crash when a pickup truck struck him at approximately 9:40 pm. Another trooper on the scene immediately began providing medical care. Trooper Modén was flown to the University of Colorado Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Trooper Modén had served with the Colorado State Patrol for 12 years and was assigned to the Vehicular Crimes Unit.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, parents, two brothers, three sister-in-laws, two aunts, one uncle, four nephews, a niece, and numerous cousins.
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.
Master Trooper Modén gave the Colorado State Patrol 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Colorado. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Master Trooper Modén.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Colorado State Patrol has lost 30 officers; 19 of them lost to accidents.
William is one of 101 officers lost to accidents in CO, 28% of the 361 remembered there.
William is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
William is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2019, 2 officers at Colorado State Patrol were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 2019, 3 officers in CO were lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 66 years on record. The heaviest was 1934, with 4.
In 2019, 45 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 103rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2019, 46 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 110th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
William was 37. Of the 13 lost to accidents at Colorado State Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 37; the middle age was 30. William had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 7.5 years.
William was 37. Of the 79 lost to accidents in CO whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 37. William had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
William was 37. 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. William had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 37. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. William had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
June holds 10.5% of these deaths at Colorado State Patrol; January holds the most, 21.1%. Fridays: 26.3%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths in CO; July holds the most, 11.9%. Fridays: 16.8%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 15.1%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15%.
How
Accident deaths account for 63.3% of all 30 deaths at Colorado State Patrol, the most common cause.
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 29.6% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Colorado State Patrol has 30 officers remembered here, William among them.
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Arnold B. Gulzow
Jun 26, 1941
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Wallace M. McCarty
Jan 24, 1946
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Harold Bechtelheimer
Sep 14, 1949
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Wesley Rosette
Jan 31, 1951
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Floyd E. Gresham
Feb 2, 1956
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Melvin E. Phillips
Feb 2, 1956
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Richard J. Cahalan
Sep 28, 1957
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Richard C. Edstrom
Oct 28, 1959
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Hiram V. Short
Jul 12, 1961
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Albert M. Alcorn
Jan 23, 1966
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Nicholas A. Carhart
Jan 23, 1966
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Gerald R. Williams
Dec 16, 1967
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Larry B. Enloe
Jan 8, 1968
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Thomas Ray Carpenter
Dec 27, 1973
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Richard P. Ross
Jul 10, 1974
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Michael Hardy James
Dec 18, 1975
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Willis Hugh Purdy
Jul 31, 1976
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Frances Irene Galvin
May 25, 1979
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James Kevin Farris
Nov 29, 1980
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Charles Andrew Fry
Sep 26, 1987
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Joseph Ardian Ynostroza
Dec 6, 1989
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Lyle Fredrick Wohlers
Nov 5, 1992
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Jason Lee Manspeaker
Jan 23, 2001
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Zachariah Earl Templeton
Oct 12, 2007
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Molly Tyler White
Nov 23, 2012
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Taylor Joseph Thyfault
May 23, 2015
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Jaimie Lynn Jursevics
Nov 15, 2015
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Cody James Donahue
Nov 25, 2016
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Daniel H. Groves
Mar 13, 2019
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William James Modén
Jun 14, 2019
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 54-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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