On February 5, 1983, Trooper William "Mike" Kees died as a result of a traffic accident that occurred during a pursuit.

Trooper Kees had apparently stopped a violator who sped away as Kees approached the subject. Trooper Kees pursued the violator for nearly twenty miles through rural Lincoln Parish. At some point in the curve of a narrow parish road, he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree. He died at the scene.

At the time of his death, Trooper William "Mike" Kees was 34 years old and had been a Trooper for three years, four months, and twenty-six days.