Longwood Police Department, Florida
End of Watch: Saturday, July 14, 2007
Age: 58
Tour of Duty: 32 years
Badge Number: L3607
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: July 14, 2007
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 9 years
Sergeant Karl Strohsal was struck and killed by another vehicle on I-4, near Saxon Boulevard in Volusia County, at about 1:30 am.
He was returning from a plainclothes operation when his unmarked vehicle had been involved in a crash and became disabled in the center lane after he swerved to avoid a plastic lawn chair that had been placed in the road. He had activated his emergency lights, exited the vehicle, and was standing in front of it when he observed an SUV approaching at a high rate of speed.
As Sergeant Strohsal attempted to run across the inside lane to the shoulder, the driver changed lanes at the last moment to avoid striking the patrol car but struck him.
The driver who struck was charged with driving on a suspended license and DUI.
The three adults who placed the chair in the roadway and who had been throwing rocks at other cars were convicted of manslaughter. Two of them were sentenced to four years in prison and the third was sentenced to nine years.
Sergeant Strohsal had served with the Longwood Police Department for 18 years and had previously served with the New York City Police Department for 14 years. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, and grandchildren.