U.S. Marine Corps · United States 
Charles Cosslett
2002
Charles Mark Cosslett served the U.S. Marine Corps for 4 years. Charles also served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
How He Died
Manner
Accident
Cause
Multiple traumatic injuries
What Happened
Trooper Charles Cosslett was killed in a motorcycle crash on I-95, near Backlick Road, south of I-495, in the Springfield area of Fairfax County.
Trooper Cosslett was responding to a sniper-related shooting call at 5:35 p.m. and driving on the right shoulder around rush hour traffic when a tow truck veered onto the shoulder from the right lane. The motorcycle struck the tow truck, killing Trooper Cosslett instantly.
Trooper Cosslett was scheduled to be off the day he was killed but reported to work to help other officers search for a sniper who had killed ten people and wounded another three in the Washington metro area. The shooting call he was responding to turned out to be unfounded. The two suspects in the sniper case were arrested at 3 a.m. the next morning near Frederick, Maryland.
Trooper Cosslett was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Virginia State Police for 16 years.
Trooper Cosslett was responding to a sniper-related shooting call at 5:35 p.m. and driving on the right shoulder around rush hour traffic when a tow truck veered onto the shoulder from the right lane. The motorcycle struck the tow truck, killing Trooper Cosslett instantly.
Trooper Cosslett was scheduled to be off the day he was killed but reported to work to help other officers search for a sniper who had killed ten people and wounded another three in the Washington metro area. The shooting call he was responding to turned out to be unfounded. The two suspects in the sniper case were arrested at 3 a.m. the next morning near Frederick, Maryland.
Trooper Cosslett was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Virginia State Police for 16 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, 3-year-old son, and 2-year-old daughter.
Service Record
U.S. Marine Corps
1981 – 1985
U.S. Marine Corps
Also Served
Virginia State Police
Senior Trooper
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier
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Record added
August 2, 2026
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Last updated
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