Copiah County Sheriff's Office, Mississippi
End of Watch: Wednesday, May 16, 1973
Age: 53
Tour of Duty: 5 years, 6 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle
Date of Incident: April 27, 1973
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Charged with manslaughter
Sheriff Sam Varnado was struck and killed by a vehicle while conducting a traffic stop on Mississippi Highway 28, six miles east of Hazelhurst, at 5:45 pm.
Sheriff Varnado was standing between his patrol car and another vehicle off the side of the road when a speeding dump truck could not stop traveling down the hill. The truck skidded to a stop atop Sheriff Varnado's patrol vehicle. He and the driver of the stopped vehicle attempted to jump clear, but Sheriff Varnado was pinned between the cars. He was rushed to Baptist Hospital with both legs broken.
He succumbed to his injuries 19 days later.
The driver of the truck was charged with manslaughter.
Sheriff Varnado was a United States Army World War II veteran and had served with the Copiah County Sheriff's Office for 5-1/2 years. He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter. His wife served as Sheriff until a new election occurred.