Indiana State Police, Indiana
End of Watch: Monday, June 26, 1972
Age: 28
Tour of Duty: 3 years, 9 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Vehicle pursuit
Date of Incident: June 26, 1972
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Never apprehended
Trooper William Trees was killed in an automobile accident during a pursuit on State Road 64 east of Francisco in Gibson County.
As Trooper Trees 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 was a United States Naval Reserve Vietnam veteran who had served with the Indiana State Police for nearly four years and was assigned to the Evansville post. He was survived by his wife, son born six months after his death, and 18-month-old daughter.