Vail Police Department, Colorado
End of Watch: Sunday, May 6, 2001
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: 1 year, 3 months
Badge Number: 204
Cause of Death: Fall
Date of Incident: May 6, 2001
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Officer Ryan Cunningham was killed after falling from a 60-foot highway overpass while avoiding being struck by a semi.
He and another officer were investigating an accident at 5 am on I-70 at Vail Pass, which was icy at the time. The two officers ran to the shoulder of the overpass as a tractor-trailer lost control to avoid being hit. Officer Cunningham jumped over the rail and fell to the ground below. The other officer, who stayed on the bridge, was uninjured.
Officer Cunningham had served with the Vail Police Department for 16 months. He is survived by his wife and infant daughter.