Bio & Incident Details
Age: 24
Tour: 2 years, 6 months
Badge # 43
Cause: Vehicle pursuit
Incident Date: 5/21/1973
Weapon: Automobile
Suspect: Not available
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Officer Volk was killed in an automobile accident during a vehicle pursuit. In the early morning hours, Officer Volk was pursuing a fugitive vehicle and a car pulled in front of him. Officer Volk, to avoid a collision, swerved and the right front tire of his patrol car deflated, causing him to lose control. The patrol car skidded into a construction site where it hit a large concrete block. The force of the collision was so severe the car was thrown into reverse, causing it to accelerate 130 feet back wards before hitting a light pole and coming to rest. The driver of the vehicle Volk was chasing looked back at the battered patrol car, then sped away.
Officer Volk was pinned in the wreckage for 40 minutes before rescue crews could remove him and rush him to the hospital. During that time, he regained consciousness but was only able to say "chasing . . . orange GTO". The driver of the car was never found, and the crime he committed to cause Volk to pursue him remains unknown.
At 7:30 a.m., Officer Volk died from injuries sustained in the wreck. He was the first Modesto Police officer to die in the line of duty. His badge was retired from service.
Officer Volk was survived by his wife and infant son.
