Trooper
Lewis Edward Phillips
Indiana State Police
Wednesday, April 16, 1975

Age: 26
Served: 2 years, 1 month
Badge #:
Panel 62E, Line 2
Panel L27, Line 10

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Automobile accident
Date/Time of Incident:
Wednesday, April 16, 1975
12:30 am
Incident to Death Duration:
Same day
Incident Location:
U.S. 20 east of State Road 39 near Springville
Incident County:
LaPorte
Incident Township:
Springfield
Weapon Used:
None
Suspect Disposition:
Charged
Burial Place:
Highland Cemetery, South Bend

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   Trooper Lewis Phillips was killed in a two-vehicle accident near Springville while responding to assist another trooper who was pursuing a traffic violator.

   He was traveling westbound on U.S. 20 about one half-mile east of State Road 39 as he crested a hill. A semitrailer driver was making an illegal U-turn and blocking all four lanes of the roadway when Trooper Phillips struck the flatbed and was decapitated.

   The 27-year-old male truck driver was charged with involuntary manslaughter, disobeying a traffic control device and having an inadequate log book.

   Trooper Phillips, from Michigan City and killed five days before completing his status as a probationary trooper, was assigned to the Dunes Park post. He had previously served as a weighman in the Motor Carrier Division for 11 months.

   Trooper Phillips was single and survived by his parents and brother.


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Trooper Lewis Edward Phillips - Indiana State Police - INLEM.org