On October 3rd, 1964, Ohio State Highway Patrolman Ernest E. Cole was helping secure an accident scene when he suffered critical injuries from being struck by a vehicle.

He had responded to a 14-vehicle pileup that had occurred in an interstate’s southbound lanes in near-zero visibility fog. As instructed, he then drove north to a spot that was still clear, and started slowing down traffic heading toward the crash site. But then the fog changed direction and quickly enveloped the area. Just minutes later, Patrolman Cole was struck from behind—and thrown 50 feet—by a car whose driver couldn’t see the cruiser’s lights, or the flare Cole was holding.

Ernest died of his injuries at the scene.

Patrolman Cole was 24 years old at the time of his death, and had served with the Ohio State Highway Patrol for just nine months. He was survived by his wife, 3-week-old son, mother, father, sister, and brother.

Ernest was a U.S. military veteran. Within the force he was known for being an absolute stickler about carrying out instructions to the letter. At the time of the incident, he was stationed at Dayton Highway Patrol Post 57.