Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma
End of Watch: Thursday, December 24, 1959
Age: 26
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: December 24, 1959
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Acquitted
Officer Yerton was killed when he collided with a car that pulled out in front of him. He was traveling side-by-side with another police car when he hit the car, lost control, jumped the curb, hit a building, then came back onto the street and hit the other police car.
The 46-year-old driver fled from the scene but was later arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident and manslaughter. The grand jury refused to indict him on the manslaughter charge. In court the driver said he lost his memory after he was hit and did not remember the accident. He was acquitted of leaving the scene of an accident.