Trooper George "Ed" Vanwagenen Utah Highway Patrol Date of death: May 23, 1931 Cause: Industrial accident View this officer's Reflections Leave a Reflection List all officers from this agency Courtesy ODMP Utah Highway Patrol Trooper George "Ed" Vanwagenen, 46, died May, 23, 1931, of injuries he suffered while investigating a stolen car report. Vanwagenen had stopped at a beet processing plant near Provo to question the owner of the car. While leaving, he slipped on a pile of loose lumber and fell into the saw blade. In order to provide for their five sons, Vanwagenen's widow, Johanna, went to work at the Utah State Mental Hospital. Four years later, she was beaten and stabbed to death by an inmate. This page, along with the State Memorial at Utah's Capitol, is maintained by the Utah Peace Officers Association in behalf of Utah's Fallen Officers - may we never forget their ultimate sacrifice Email your comments, suggestions, or information requests to upoa@upoa.org