Trooper Michael L. Newton, 25
Killed In The Line Of Duty

 

Corporal Doug Alexander, Troop A

 

On May 22, At 6:54 A.M., Trooper Michael L. Newton Radioed Troop A that he was making a traffic stop on eastbound Interstate 70 at the 47-mile marker. At approximately 6:59 A.M., troop A radio began receiving calls of a traffic crash involving a Trooper at the 47- mile marker.

 

The crash occurred as Trooper Newton was sitting on the right-hand shoulder of Interstate 70. His patrol car was positioned behind the “violators” vehicle and was angled to left. Trooper Newton had the driver sitting in the passenger seat of his patrol car. A 2001 Ford F-350, one ton pickup truck pulling a 24-foot gooseneck trailer ran off the main roadway and struck the rear of Trooper Newton’s patrol car. His car burst into flames; the Ford F-350 continued eastbound coming to a stop approximately 250 feet east of the area impact.

 

Motorists who saw the crash stopped to assist. They were able to pull the man from the passenger seat of the patrol car, but were unable to provide any assistance to Trooper Newton. The man they rescued suffered third-degree burns over 40 percent of his body. He was transported by air ambulance to University Hospital in Columbia for treatment. The driver of the Ford F-350 was transported to a hospital in Lexington for treatment to his injuries. Trooper Michael L. Newton was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lafayette County Corner W.C. Lahue.

 

Trooper Newton was the son of Garry and Bobbie Newton. He was born in Rolla on April 21, 1978. He graduated from Newburg High School in 1996. Trooper Newton was united in marriage to Shonnie Suschanke on September 13, 1997. She and their two sons, Tyler Newton, 5, and Devon Newton, 9, survive. On January 16, 2001, he entered the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy. Trooper Newton graduated on July 21, 2001, and was assigned to Troop A Zone 9, Lafayette County. He earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Mineral Area College in 2001.

 

In Memoriam
A memorial fund has been established for the children of Trooper Michael L. Newton at First Central Bank, 401 North Maguire Street, Warrensburg, MO 64093, (660) 429-2101. The bank has two branch offices: First Central Bank- Higginsville, 401 Fairground Avenue, Higginsville, MO 64037, (660)584-7404: First Central Bank- Odessa, 101 South 2nd Street, Odessa, MO 64076, (816) 633-5151. Anyone wishing to make a contribution to this fund may contact one of the above banks directly.

 

Click here to view St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer, Michael Barwick page.