Senior Trooper Richard Dale Cottle, Texas Department of Public Safety

Senior Trooper Richard Dale Cottle

Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, Texas

End of Watch Wednesday, May 9, 2001

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Richard Dale Cottle

Senior Trooper Richard Cottle was killed in an automobile collision when his cruiser slammed into the rear of a tractor-trailer on I-35 just north of Waco during morning fog.

The semi had just been involved in a crash with another tractor-trailer and was blocking a travel lane when the collision occurred. Trooper Cottle, who was assigned to the Motor-vehicle Inspection Section, was on his way to Dallas to testify in a court case.

Trooper Cottle had served with the Texas Department of Public Safety for almost 30 years. He is survived by his wife and four children. One of his sons also served with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Bio

Age 51
Tour 30 years
Badge 3087

Incident Details

Cause Automobile crash

attending court, routine driving, weather

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Most Recent Reflection

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During a 28 day trip around USA, much of it driving, we were heading north out of Waco toward Fort Worth when we saw the brown memorial sign and Googled the history of Senior Trooper Cottle. What a tragic accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, colleagues and friends, who no doubt think of him and miss him every day ♥️

Steve & Jodie Broadbent
Visitors from Australia

April 14, 2025