On Saturday, March 2, Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher M. Gadd, 27, was fatally struck by an SUV while his patrol car was parked on the shoulder of southbound Interstate 5 near Marysville, Washington.
The incident, which occurred just before 3 a.m., involved a high-speed collision that has since led to a vehicular homicide investigation.
Trooper Gadd was engaged in a patrol operation targeting drivers under the influence at the time of the crash. According to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, the SUV, driven by a 32-year-old man from Lynwood, veered off the roadway at a high speed and collided with Gadd’s stationary vehicle. The impact from the SUV subsequently led to another collision involving a van carrying six passengers. While the van’s driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries, no other passengers were reported injured.
The driver responsible for striking Trooper Gadd’s car was evaluated at the scene and has been taken into custody on charges of vehicular homicide.
This incident marks a significant loss for the Washington State Patrol, with Chief John R. Batiste expressing the profound grief felt across the agency, highlighting the unquantifiable sacrifice made by Trooper Gadd and his family.
Christopher M. Gadd is survived by his wife, Cammryn, their daughter, Kaelyn, his mother, and his father, who is also a member of the Washington State Patrol. Additionally, his sister serves as a trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety, underscoring a family deeply rooted in public service.
Gadd, who had been serving with the WSP for two and a half years, is remembered as the 33rd member of the agency to fall in the line of duty in its 103-year history.
The community and the Washington State Patrol have been united in mourning the loss of Trooper Gadd, with tributes and condolences being extended to his family.