Lavaca County Sheriff's Office, Texas
End of Watch: Monday, January 17, 1949
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: January 17, 1949
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Sheriff Vernon Reaves was killed in a single-vehicle crash as he was returning from a court case in Gonzales.
As his vehicle crossed the icy Peach Tree Bridge, it spun out of control and off an embankment, flipping over several times. Sheriff Reaves was thrown from the vehicle and killed instantly. His passenger was slightly injured.
Sheriff Reaves was a United States Army WWII veteran and had served with the Lavaca County Sheriff's Office for two years. He was survived by his wife, mother, sister, and two brothers. .