Mount Vernon, WA – Fifty-one years ago today, Washington State Patrol Trooper Thomas L. Hendrickson was killed in the line of duty after being struck by a vehicle on State Route 20 in Mount Vernon.
According to the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, Trooper Hendrickson was conducting a traffic stop on November 17, 1974, when a westbound vehicle crossed the center line and struck him. The suspect fled the scene but was later located and arrested for driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol content of .12.
The Washington State Patrol later named the loop road at their Burlington detachment office “Thomas Hendrickson Memorial Loop” in his honor. During the 2011 dedication ceremony, Trooper Hendrickson’s wife, Barbara, urged fellow troopers to conduct stops from the passenger side for added safety, reminding them her husband was killed on the driver’s side.
Trooper Hendrickson had served nearly four years with the Washington State Patrol and was survived by his wife and two children.
Today, local law enforcement agencies across Skagit County continue to recognize Trooper Hendrickson’s sacrifice and service to the community.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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