Troop F patrolman dies in line of duty

A Missouri Highway Patrol trooper died in the line of duty Friday morning in Audrain County.

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Patrol officials said the death of Trooper James M. Bava was the result of a one-vehicle traffic crash.

At 8:29 a.m., Bava, 25, radioed that he observed a motorcyclist commit a traffic violation on Missouri Route FF. A few minutes later, communications operators at Troop F Headquarters in Jefferson City attempted to contact Bava by radio and did not receive a response. At 8:35 a.m., Troop F received a report of a patrol vehicle crashed on Route FF, just east of Audrain Road 977. Emergency responders arrived on the scene and confirmed Bava had been killed in the crash.

Patrol officials said the investigation into the incident continues by the patrol's major crash investigation unit. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.

Appointed to the patrol on July 1, 2013, Bava was member of the Patrol's 97th Recruit Class. A native of Lake St. Louis, in 2012, Bava graduated from Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois, with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

He is the 31st member of the patrol to lose his life in the line of duty.

Bava is survived by his parents, two sisters, a brother and a half-sister.

"Trooper Bava took an oath to serve and protect the people of Missouri," Col. Bret Johnson said. "Today, he made the ultimate sacrifice in carrying out that sacred oath. The entire patrol family mourns the loss of our brave and dedicated colleague, and we send our prayers and support to Trooper Bava's family, friends and those who worked most closely with him."

Gov. Jay Nixon order the U.S. and state flags at all Missouri State Highway Patrol facilities to be immediately lowered to half-staff and remain there through the date of Brava's funeral. After a funeral date is set, Nixon will order flags statewide to fly at half-staff on that day to honor Bava, according to a news release on the governor's website.