Deputy Sheriff
John Henry Kennedy Jr.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department
Alabama
Wednesday, July 14, 1993

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Automobile accident
Date/Time of Incident:
Wednesday, July 14, 1993
04:50 am
Incident to Death Duration:
Same day
Incident Location:
Interstate 69 south of State Road 8,
Auburn, Indiana
Incident County:
DeKalb
Incident Township:
Keyser
Weapon Used:
None
Suspect Disposition:
None
Burial Place:
Walker’s Chapel Cemetery
Fultondale, Alabama

   Deputy John Kennedy and Deputy James Judd were killed in an automobile accident while transporting a prisoner from Saginaw, Michigan, to Birmingham, Alabama.

   The accident occurred on Interstate 69 near Auburn as their unmarked car, driven by Deputy Judd, was traveling southbound and struck a construction barrier.

   Their vehicle then went out of control, crashed into an embankment before going into a stream on the east side of the highway, killing both deputies instantly.

   The prisoner, who was being transported, had been charged with drug possession and was thrown from the vehicle in the accident but survived.

   Deputy Kennedy, 51, had served with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department for 21 years. He was survived by his wife, two sons and sister.