Chief Deputy William Lark was killed in an auto accident when another car struck his patrol vehicle.

On December 7, 1994, Chief Deputy Lark was working was working to keep traffic moving on an icy stretch of I-29. Chief Lark was traveling southbound on I-29 in the area of mile marker 90 near Craig, Missouri at the Little Tarkio bridge at about 10:10 am when the driver of a northbound pickup truck lost control of his vehicle, crossing the median and striking Chief Lark's patrol vehicle. Chief Lark was pronounced dead at Fairfax Hospital.

Chief Deputy Lark is survived by his wife, Maribeth, son, Craig, daughter Kristin, and two grandchildren, Taylor and Zachary. Interred: Maple Grove Cemetery, Oregon, Holt County, MO.

In 2003, a portion of I-29 was renamed William 'Bill' Lark Memorial Highway in his honor.