California Highway Patrol, California
End of Watch: Friday, April 23, 1993
Age: 47
Tour of Duty: 21 years
Badge Number: 8018
Cause of Death: Motorcycle crash
Date of Incident: April 23, 1993
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 8 months
Sergeant John Steel was killed when his motorcycle was struck by a driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel on Irvine Boulevard east of Sand Canyon Road, in Irvine.
The suspect was an illegal alien and was deported to Mexico. The man returned to the United States shortly after being deported and was subsequently sent to jail for eight months.
Sergeant Steel had served with the California Highway Patrol for 21 years. He was survived by his wife and two sons.