Colorado State Patrol, Colorado
End of Watch: Wednesday, July 10, 1974
Age:
Tour of Duty: 1 year, 3 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Exposure to toxins
Date of Incident: July 10, 1974
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman Richard Ross succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning after his exhaust pipe was damaged.
He had just completed investigating an accident on U.S. 287, near Hugo, and backed his vehicle over a bent sign post. The impact punched a hole through the exhaust pipe. Realizing he damaged the cruiser he called for his supervisor and left the engine running while finishing his report. Two passing truck drivers found Patrolman Ross unconscious and called for assistance but Patrolman Ross had succumbed to the poisoning at the scene.
Patrolman Ross had served with the Colorado State Patrol for 16 months.