Trooper John C. Hagerty, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida

Trooper John C. Hagerty

Florida Highway Patrol, Florida

End of Watch Wednesday, March 18, 1970

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John C. Hagerty

Trooper John Hagerty was killed when the traffic plane he was piloting was struck by a low-flying U.S. Navy plane over Lakeland.

He was monitoring traffic on I-4, flying at an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet, when two Navy A7B Corsair bombers entered the airspace near him. One of the jets collided with his plane, slicing it in two. The wreckage of his plane landed on I-4, approximately four miles north of Lakeland.

Trooper Hagerty and other troopers had previously reported Navy aircraft buzzing the traffic control planes and vehicles on the highway.

Trooper Hagerty had served with the Florida Highway Patrol for 13 years.

Bio

Age 44
Tour 13 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Aircraft accident

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Trooper Hagerty,
On today, the 50th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of the state of Florida. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

March 18, 2020