Trooper
Robert Earl Clevenger
Indiana State Police
Tuesday, September 8, 1953

Age: 22
Served: 1 year
Badge #:
Panel 12W, Line 1
Panel L16, Line 3

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Vehicle pursuit
Date/Time of Incident:
Tuesday, September 8, 1953
02:20 pm
Incident to Death Duration:
Same day
Incident Location:
County Road 600 South at State Road 103
Incident County:
Henry
Incident Township:
Franklin
Weapon Used:
None
Suspect Disposition:
Charges dismissed
Burial Place:
Riverside Cemetery, Cambridge City

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   Trooper Robert Clevenger was killed in a single-vehicle accident while in pursuit of a traffic violator on a graveled road three miles south of New Castle near Straughn.

   He observed a motorist commit a traffic violation at an intersection near Cambridge City and began pursuing the vehicle. The 13-mile chase led to a T-intersection and due to the dust created by the violator's vehicle, Trooper Clevenger was unable to see ahead to an embankment, struck it head-on with his squad car and overturned.

   Investigators found the license plate number of the pursued vehicle in Trooper Clevenger's squad car and apprehended a 26-year-old man later that day. He was charged with reckless driving and reckless homicide but returned to Pennsylvania for violating his parole on a 2½-to-5-year sentence for burglary and larceny. 

   Trooper Clevenger, from Centerville, was assigned to the Connersville post. He was survived by his wife, parents, paternal and maternal grandfathers.

Military Service


United States Marine Corps
World War II
Sergeant (SGT) ▪ 1949–1950
 1950–1952 (Reserves)



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Trooper Robert Earl Clevenger - Indiana State Police - INLEM.org