Patrolman James Hedgepeth

End of Watch: Thu, Feb 12th, 1942

Date of Incident: Mon, Feb 2nd, 1942

Cause of Death: Struck By Vehicle (DUI)

Service Time: 16 years

Age: 46

Survivors

His wife Ida, sons Paul and Eugene, and daughters Elizabeth and Mabel

Incident

Patrolman Hedgepeth and Patrolman Thomas Kinney were struck and killed by a drunk driver at 1915 hours while attempting to keep fire lanes open at Jackson and Main Streets for apparatus responding to a three-alarm fire. While on the scene a drunk driver entered the area at a high rate of speed. Patrolman Hedgepeth attempted to flag the driver down but instead the man drove over him, dragging him over a fire hose and down the street. Patrolman Kinney witnessed the incident and charged towards the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle also struck and killed Patrolman Kinney. Patrolman Hedgepeth succumbed to his injuries two days later.