Trooper Robert J. Kolilis

Badge #353

Trooper Robert J. Kolilis, 24, died on September 21, 1988, as a result of injuries sustained when he was struck by a pick-up truck on Highway "M" in Washington County near Irondale, Missouri. He was the 16th member of the Patrol to be killed in the line of duty.

The accident occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. Two vehicles were stopped along the two lane road with one vehicle parked approximately two feet on the traveled portion of the road. Trooper Kolilis apparently stopped to render assistance or to determine why the vehicle was parked partially on the roadway. The drivers of both vehicles were standing in the roadway to the left of the patrol car, which was stopped in the eastbound lane of Highway "M". Trooper Kolilis had exited the patrol car and was standing at or near the center of the roadway -- the patrol car's headlights were on. A pick-up truck, driven by a 16-year-old male, was traveling westbound and did not see Trooper Kolilis standing in the roadway. Trooper Kolilis was struck by the left front fender of the pick-up truck.

Trooper Kolilis was taken to Washington County Memorial Hospital where he died as a result of his injuries at 9:30 p.m. He had been commissioned and graduated from the Academy on December 11, 1987.

As part of the Patrol's 75th Anniversary Celebration, employees of the Patrol have written in-depth articles about each of the officers that have been killed in the line of duty. These stories go more into the officer's life, who they were and their families, then just the circumstances of their death.

Read a more detailed article about Trooper Robert J. "Bob" Kolilis