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On April 19, 1962, Trooper Harold Rupert, 34, was killed in the line of duty in an automobile crash during a pursuit of a car he had attempted to stop for traffic violations.
The chase had just crossed the state line into Pennsylvania when the vehicle Trooper Rupert was a passenger in tried to pass the suspect vehicle.
The suspect vehicle rammed the patrol car, causing it to collide with an oncoming tractor trailer.
Trooper Rupert received fatal injuries in the collision and his partner, Trooper Raymond Querey, was seriously injured. The driver of the suspect vehicle later turned himself in after learning of the fatal accident
and was charged with involuntary manslaughter. He graduated from the Delaware State Police Recruit School on September 27, 1956 and was assigned to Troop 1, Penny Hill.
At the age of 34 he left behind his wife Abigail and five daughters. His daughters are Colleen, Lorraine, Patricia, Maria and Kathleen. At time of his death they were 10, 9, 3 and 1 year of age. His daughter, Kathleen, was born the following December. |