Trooper
William Joseph 'Joe' Trees
Indiana State Police
Monday, June 26, 1972
Age: 28
Served: 3 years, 9 months
Panel 44E, Line 10
Panel L2, Line 9
Indiana State Police

Incident Details

Cause of Death
Vehicle pursuit
Date/Time of Incident
Monday, June 26, 1972
01:25 am
Incident to Death Duration
Same day
Incident Location
State Road 64 near County Road 750 East
Incident County
Gibson
Incident Township
Center
Weapon Used
None
Suspect Disposition
Never apprehended
Burial Place
Jefferson Cemetery, Upland
Share this memorial

   Trooper William Trees was killed in a two-vehicle accident during a pursuit on State Road 64 about three-quarters mile east of Francisco.

   As he was assisting the Francisco town marshal with speeding vehicles, he began chasing a violator when his patrol car struck an oncoming semitrailer head-on. The fleeing vehicle was never found.

   Trooper Trees, from Oakland City, was assigned to the Evansville post. He was survived by his wife, son born six months after his death and 18-month-old daughter.

Military Service


United States Naval Reserve
Vietnam War
Radarman Petty Officer Third Class (RD3)
1965–1968

Memorial Tribute

• In 2013, the northbound Interstate 69 bridge over the Patoka River in Gibson County was dedicated the Trooper William J. ''Joe'' Trees Memorial Bridge in his honor.



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