Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio
End of Watch: Saturday, February 28, 1948
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: 5 months
Badge Number: 172/455
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: February 28, 1948
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman James Gardner was killed in an automobile crash while pursuing a vehicle at 8:20 p.m.
His patrol car collided with another vehicle and then struck a telephone pole on Highway 62 near Alliance. The other patrolman in the vehicle was seriously injured.
Patrolman Gardner was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII and had served with the Ohio State Highway Patrol for only 5 months, assigned to the Massillon Post. He was survived by his parents.