DPS is remembering fallen Trooper Douglas Knutson today. He was killed on this day in 1998. While standing and waiting for a tow truck to remove an abandoned vehicle at the gore point of Scottsdale Road and westbound Loop-202, Motorcycle Trooper Knutson suffered multiple injuries when he was struck from behind by a small pickup driven by 22-year old Brett Baxter of Tempe. The 43-year old was taken to an area hospital where he died from his injuries. Knutson was the first motorcycle trooper to be killed in the line of duty. Baxter was not charged in the incident.
