Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
End of Watch: May 21, 1989
Date of Incident: May 21, 1989
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 5 yr
Suspect Info: Driver charged and convicted
Weapon Used: 18-wheeler; Alcohol involved

Trooper Zerda and Sergeant William Kuhnle were killed when a drunk truck driver crashed his tractor trailer into their parked patrol car. The officers were parked on the shoulder after stopping another drunk driver.

Trooper Zerda had been with the agency for five years.