U.S. Army · United States 
John Edward Sawa
1987
John Edward Sawa served the U.S. Army for 4 years. John served in the Vietnam War and the Cold War.
How He Died
Manner
Homicide
Cause
Gunshot wound
Mechanism
Motor vehicle
What Happened
Trooper First Class John Sawa and Trooper Larry Small were killed when their patrol car was struck by a tractor-trailer driven by a drunk driver. The troopers were parked in the median of I-95, near the Maryland 155 interchange in Havre de Grace, when the semi ran off the road and struck the patrol car broadside. The driver of the tractor-trailer was arrested and charged with two counts of homicide with a motor vehicle and one count of drunk driving. Trooper Small was completing his last day of field training when the crash occurred. Trooper Sawa had served with the Maryland State Police for almost five years. He was survived by his wife and two children. His father and one brother also served in the Maryland State Police.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
Service Record
U.S. Army
1968 – 1972
Conflicts
Vietnam War
Cold War
Also Served
Maryland State Police
Trooper First Class
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier
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Record added
August 2, 2026
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Last updated
August 2, 2026
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