On August 26, 1911, Officer Darling, O.E. Johnson, and A.E. Mitchell were responding to handle a burglary call at approximately 11:30 pm. Officer Johnson was about a 1/2 block ahead of the others, passed a buggy without any difficulty. Officer Mitchell was the next to reach the buggy but did not observe it until he was almost upon it. Officer Mitchell struck one of the buggy's rear wheels at 17th and Prospect. Officer Darling was directly behind Officer Mitchell, crashed into the buggy, and was thrown from his motorcycle at the intersection of 17th and Prospect. He died from his injuries.