Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Daryl J. Gakin
Age : 34
Gender : Male
Race : White
Date : 06/23/2021
Location : Interstate 80
City : Lamar
County : Centre
State : Pennsylvania
Agency : Pennsylvania State Police
Officer(s) :Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Driver killed by police chase crash
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
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REASON FOR POLICE CHASE:
Speeding. At approximately 8:00 p.m., a Pennsylvania State Police trooper attempted to stop Daryl J. Gakin’s 2004 Nissan Titan near mile marker 178 on Interstate 80 westbound in Lamar Township, Clinton County. Gakin continued driving away at high speed and state police pursued him west on I-80.
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OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY:
On 06/23/2021, 34-year-old Daryl J. Gakin of South Dakota was killed when his pickup crashed during a Pennsylvania State Police pursuit that began in Clinton County and continued approximately 12 miles into Centre County.
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A state trooper attempted to stop Gakin for speeding near mile marker 178 in Lamar Township. Gakin continued west at high speed while state police pursued. The chase crossed the Clinton-Centre county line and continued into Marion Township.
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Near mile marker 165.7, Gakin’s Nissan left the roadway and struck the end of a guardrail. The pickup rolled multiple times before coming to rest off the roadway. Gakin was ejected from the truck and was pronounced dead at the scene.
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The crash occurred roughly 12 miles from where state police had attempted the traffic stop. Interstate 80 westbound was closed around the crash scene until approximately 3:00 a.m. the following morning while police investigated and cleared the roadway.
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Gakin was born on 06/01/1987 in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and graduated from Redfield High School in 2006. He later attended Black Hills State College in Spearfish. After college, he worked as a bartender in Deadwood and later for Knecht in Spearfish.
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Gakin was the father of a son, Bryer, born in 2010. He enjoyed hiking, playing softball and spending time outdoors. Friends and family knew him for his big smile and larger-than-life personality and nicknamed him “Double Barrel Daryl.” He was survived by his son, his mother Gloria Gakin, his brother Tate Stroup and his sister Sophia Allen.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Pennsylvania State Police trooper who initiated the traffic stop and pursuit has not been publicly identified in the contemporary reports or additional publicly indexed records located for this case.
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DISPOSITION:
The involved Pennsylvania State Police trooper(s) were not criminally charged for their role in initiating or participating in the pursuit.
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SOURCE LINKS :
e.com/site/archives/70725
https://kelo.com/2021/06/24/south-dakota-man-dies-after-police-chase-in-pennsylvania/
https://www.lockhaven.com/news/police-court-and-fires/2021/06/police-news-june-25-2/
https://www.statecollege.com/articles/local-news/1-dead-after-crash-on-i-80-in-centre-county-following-police-pursuit/
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/daryl-gakin-obituary?id=5849487
https://cdn4.creativecirclemedia.com/nmcsd/files/20240110-184902-dddf22496386696ef679b130847c83cc.zip~6%3A30%3A2021%20PRESS%20%E2%80%94%20CORRECTO.pdf
