Travis County Constable's Office - Precinct 3, Texas
End of Watch Monday, May 20, 1985
Add to My HeroesDavid Elwood Nelson
Around 6:00 a.m. on May 3, 1985, Chief Deputy Constable David E. Nelson was traveling in 5500 block of U.S. Highway 290 in the Oak Hill community heading to Lake Travis to serve some civil papers. A large flatbed tractor trailer backed out of a parking lot. Nelson did not react fast enough and collided with the truck. He was taken to Brackenridge Hospital where he died from his injuries at 2:25 a.m. on May 20, 1985. He was 7 days short of his 60th birthday.
Nelson was survived by his wife, Beatrice Carlson Nelson, two sisters and two brothers. He was buried in the Capital Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Austin.
Bio
- Age 59
- Tour 9 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Automobile crash
- Incident Date Friday, May 3, 1985
Most Recent Reflection
View all 5 ReflectionsRest in Peace Chief Deputy David Elwood Nelson. Thank You for your Service and Sacrifice protecting the citizens of Travis County, Texas.
I Pray for Peace for your Loved ones and the men and women that now serve Travis County, Texas.
Amen.
Senior Special Agent B.L. Sherwood
Port Terminal Railroad Police Houston, TX
May 20, 2016
Recent LODD Deaths
Deputy Sheriff Tim Jordan
Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office, LA
EOW: January 21, 2026
Agent Aníbal Morales Aponte
Puerto Rico Police Department, PR
EOW: January 13, 2026
Zone Sergeant Steven W. Greene
New York State Police, NY
EOW: October 24, 2025
Sergeant Frederick W. Scheidt, Jr.
New York State Police, NY
EOW: August 13, 2025
Trooper Mark A. Ondus
New York State Police, NY
EOW: October 19, 2025
Police Officer Elijah Garretson
Copperas Cove Police Department, TX
EOW: January 11, 2026
Master Police Officer Donald Richard Gotthardt, Jr.
Fairfax County Police Department, VA
EOW: October 16, 2025
Police Officer Terry L. Bennett
Metropolitan Police Department, DC
EOW: January 7, 2026
Police Officer Stephen LaPorta
Uxbridge Police Department, MA
EOW: January 7, 2026

