MHP's fallen heroes
Montana Highway Patrol troopers raise their hands in a group salute as the casket of their fellow trooper is removed from the hearse. Nate Chute/Daily Inter Lake
The Daily Inter Lake
Since the Montana Highway Patrol was founded 74 years ago, seven troopers have died in the line of duty. Five of them were in Northwest Montana.
March 27, 2009: Trooper Mike Haynes of Kalispell died from injuries sustained four days earlier when his squad car was hit head-on south of Kalispell.
Aug. 26, 2008: Trooper Evan Schneider of Kalispell died in a crash near Bad Rock Canyon. While in pursuit of a vehicle, Schneider was hit head-on by another vehicle that was forced into oncoming traffic.
Oct. 9, 2007: Trooper David Graham of Kalispell died in a crash two miles north of Kalispell when a vehicle crossed a turn lane and hit him head-on.
April 8, 1978: Officer Michael Ren was shot and killed near Eureka. Ren was trying to arrest a man on an outstanding warrant. Ren pulled the suspect over and approached the vehicle with his gun drawn. The suspect pulled a rifle and shot Ren.
July 19, 1973: South of Kalispell, Officer Richard Hedstrom was writing a warning ticket when he was struck and killed by a pickup. Hedstrom had been on the road less than three weeks following recruit academy.
Aug. 1, 1954: Officer James Anderson had pulled over a driver on the Bozeman Hill. A vehicle coming from the opposite direction struck Anderson.
Nov. 2, 1946: Patrolman Robert Steele was responding to a report of an armed robbery in Billings. The suspects were headed east on Highway 10. Steele and another trooper spotted the getaway car parked in a ravine off the roadway. The troopers approached the car on the passenger's side and Steele was shot in the neck.