In Memory of Trooper David A. Graham
Published on KPAX News - October 15, 2009
Portions of highways near Kalispell have been dedicated to three Montana Highway Patrol troopers who were killed in crashes while on duty. Montana governor Brian Schweitzer, the MT Department of Transportation director Jim Lynch, and the Montana Highway Patrol Colonel dedicated the highway in a ceremony on Wednesday.
Trooper David Graham was killed when a careless driver crashed into his vehicle in October 2007 near Kalispell.
Victor Nelson, Trooper Graham's brother, said, "It means a lot, he meant a lot to me, and he helped a lot of people and everybody needs to know what kind of person he was, he was out there for everybody."
Genny Graham, Trooper Graham's wife, said, "I just hope that when people drive by and see the memorial highway signs that they'll think twice about what they do while they're driving, whether it be talking on the phone, reaching for things, driving drunk just hope that they realize, pay attention so that we don't have to make memorial highways anymore for our troopers or anybody else."
Trooper Evan Schneider was killed when a vehicle forced a truck into oncoming traffic on August 2007 near Columbia Falls.
Captain Clancy King of the Kalispell District Highway Patrol said that the memorials show support from the community and the state, noting, "The sad part of it for me is the potential that they all three had, and to see that, they had such bright futures ahead of them, but its also just going to be a nice reminder of what great people they were and the support that we've gotten to."
Trooper Mike Haynes died from injuries in a crash when a wrong-way drunk driver crashed into his vehicle in March 2009 south of Kalispell.
Tawny Haynes, Trooper Mike Haynes' wife, said, "It's important for people to remember him and you know these signs, especially with the patch and the badge number on there, I think it will give people, especially those aren't from this area, it will kind of make them go 'hmm, I wonder who that is' and maybe it will kind of help keep his memory alive."
The bills authorizing the memorial highways were passed by the 2009 Montana Legislature.
Published in the Daily Inter Lake - October 15, 2009
Highways dedicated to fallen troopers
State officials on Wednesday dedicated sections of Flathead County's major highways to three Montana Highway Patrol troopers killed recently in the line of duty.
Troopers David Graham, Evan Schneider and Mike Haynes died in head-on collisions between October 2007 and March 2009.
"Our husbands made the ultimate sacrifice serving our community and the state of Montana," said Schneider's widow, Carrie.
"It is my hope that these honorary dedication signs, as well as all the white crosses we see when we are driving across the state, will serve as a grave reminder to all the lives that have been lost."
Schneider, 29, was killed in an August 2008 crash on U.S. 2 near Bad Rock Canyon.
A former U.S. Marine, Schneider was following another vehicle when it sideswiped an oncoming half-ton GMC pickup truck - forcing the pickup's driver to lose control, veer into the other lane of traffic and crash head-on into Schneider's patrol car.
The two people in the pickup truck, a couple from Hungry Horse, also died in the wreck.
The driver of the third car never has been found.
Signs were unveiled Wednesday identifying the section of U.S. 2 between Montana 206 and Hungry Horse as the Trooper Evan F. Schneider Memorial Highway.
U.S. 2 between Reserve Drive to just north of Glacier Park International Airport has been dedicated to Graham, who is survived by his wife and three young children.
Graham, 36, was killed in October 2007 while performing routine traffic control after his squad car was struck head-on by the inattentive driver of a pickup truck that crossed the center turn lane on U.S. 2 near the intersection with Rose Crossing.
Legislation renaming portions of U.S. 2 after Graham and Schneider was passed last session.
"It was a true honor to carry this legislation ... and on behalf of the Legislature, our thoughts are with the highway patrol," said state Rep. Jon Sonju, R-Kalispell.
Lynch ordered the section of U.S. 93 between Somers and Cemetery Road dedicated to Haynes, who died from injuries suffered in a crash that occurred after the 2009 session's deadline for new legislation.
Haynes, 28, died from injuries suffered in a March crash with a drunken driver.
A father of two, Haynes was southbound on U.S. 93 north of Somers when a car traveling northbound in the southbound lanes struck his marked cruiser head-on.
The other driver, a 29-year-old Kalispell man, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Chilly winds and overcast skies on Wednesday didn't stop dozens of family members, friends and fellow law enforcement officers from turning out for the small ceremony along U.S. 2 outside Glacier Park International Airport.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Montana Highway Patrol commander Col. Mike Tooley also attended.
"I really appreciated the colonel and the governor coming up," said Haynes' widow, Tawny. "These things mean a lot to me and Carrie [Schneider] and Genny [Graham]. It's nice to know they're willing to take these steps, to make all this effort, to honor [our husbands]."
Schweitzer thanked members of the highway patrol for making the state's roads safer.
"We thank the families, not just of the fallen heroes, but the families of the entire highway patrol," Schweitzer said.
Officials presented the widows with flowers and framed miniatures of the signs erected alongside the highways before full-size signs were unveiled to strains of "Amazing Grace" played on a bagpipe.
"Everybody's life is actually a story ... and these three troopers, their stories ended in a way we wish they hadn't," Tooley said.
An interim legislative committee, which met for the first time in August, has been tasked with evaluating current DUI laws before the 2011 session.
Some advocates of reform say Montana's DUI laws aren't strict enough and have become a complex patchwork of statutes arising from federal mandates, initiatives by legislators and task forces, plus case-specific circumstances.
In 2007, Montana ranked first in the nation for the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities per miles traveled, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
U.S. 2 also is dedicated as the 163rd Infantry Regiment Heritage Highway, in honor of the soldiers who fought in World War II. That memorial designation overlaps those sections named for the fallen troopers.
"It's a tremendous honor ... to be able to include our three sons in the dedication of these highways," Lynch said.
Published on KECI-TV - October 14, 2009
Family, friends and colleagues Thursday honored three Montana Highway Patrol troopers killed on the job.
Troopers David Graham, Evan Schneider, and Michael Haynes all died while working Montana's Highways.
The Governor and other state officials dedicated sections of Highway 2 near Kalispell and a portion of Highway 93 south of town to the troopers.
People who knew the troopers say Thursday's ceremony will keep their loved ones' memories alive.
David Graham's widow Jenny Graham says, "Its important I think for all of us to stick together and help each other out. This is just great and they've been a big support for me through everything and hopefully I have been for them. This is just a huge honor."
Michael Haynes' widow, Tawny Haynes says, "I think that even people who aren't from this area that they'll drive by... It lets them know...b hey these people were troopers and they gave the ultimate sacrifice for this community.. And i just think its really special they way they did it and i just think they look beautiful."
Portions of Highway 2 were dedicated to Graham and Schneider. Trooper Haynes' memorial highway is south of Kalispell on Highway 93.
Montana Highway Patrol Memorial
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Highway Patrol/State Police Memorial
