This Day in History: Remembering Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Robert Perez
ASHLAND COUNTY, Ohio — Doug Miller shares this day in history in honor of Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Robert Perez, who died in the line of duty on May 15, 2000.
Trooper Perez was just 24 years old.
His death came three days after a serious traffic crash on the Ohio Turnpike. On May 12, 2000, at approximately 2:15 a.m., Trooper Perez had stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation on westbound I-80 near milepost 121, about three miles east of U.S. 250.
While seated in his patrol car, another vehicle ran off the roadway and slammed into the rear of his cruiser.
The driver of the vehicle that struck the patrol car exited his vehicle and attempted to flag down traffic before sitting down in the westbound lane of I-80. He was then struck and killed by another vehicle.
Trooper Perez later died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Perez was a member of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s 132nd Academy Class, which graduated on April 2, 1999. He became the 34th member of the Ohio State Highway Patrol to lose his life in the line of duty.
More than two decades later, his sacrifice is still remembered.
Rest in peace, Trooper Robert Perez. You will never be forgotten.
