Almost 50 years after his death, a fallen state trooper who served the Lakeland area will be honored.
Lakeland commissioners on Monday unanimously supported the state’s request to designate a section of Interstate 4 as “Trooper John C. Hagerty Memorial Highway.” Hagerty served as a state trooper for nearly 14 years prior to his death.
“It’s definitely a really tragic story behind Mr. Hagerty’s passing,” Chuck Barmby, Lakeland’s transportation and development review manager, said. “This was something closely tied to I-4.”
Hagerty was killed in the line of duty March 18, 1970 at age 44. He was flying a plane over I-4 to monitor traffic when his plane collided with a U.S. Navy A-7 and a second Navy plane near the intersection of State Road 33 and I-4, according to Sgt. Steve Gaskins, public affairs officer for Florida Highway Patrol’s Troop C, which covers Polk County. The two military aircraft were en route to a practice bombing mission.
The tail section of Hagerty’s plane was severed and landed on or near I-4. The main body of the aircraft was found in a cypress swamp roughly four miles away. Hagerty died in or shortly after the collision, according to Gaskins.
“We’re very proud of all our troopers, especially our fallen troopers,” Gaskins said. “We’re grateful the state and local governments recognize the sacrifices of people like Mr. Hagerty.”
The memorial road renaming, if approved, would stretch along I-4 from mile-marker 36, near State Road 33, east to mile-marker 44, near State Road 559 in Auburndale. It is one of approximately 40 sections of roads, highways and bridges dedicated to honor mostly state troopers in legislation approved by the Florida Legislature.
Florida Department of Transportation spokesman Brian Rick said once the roadway designation is approved by all necessary local governments it will go to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his approval.
Gaskin said pending approval, FHP will work with FDOT to have the mile markers installed and plan commemorative ceremonies. The state is working to contact any of Hagerty’s surviving family members or relatives. His mother was Thelma Elizabeth Hagerty, of Crystal River, and he had a son, Paul Conrad.
“We’re thankful for the recognition (fallen troopers) get, even sometimes years later, like this,” Gaskins said.