Sheriff Wyman Basinger was fatally injured in a traffic accident while responding to an emergency call.

On January 30, 1986, Sheriff Basinger was injured during his response to an emergency call when his squad car was struck broadside at the Intersection of U. S. Highway 54 and Route E near Brazito. Sheriff Basinger was being treated at Memorial Hospital in Jefferson City when at 7:00 pm on February 6th, a blood clot from a hip injury broke loose and traveled to his heart.

Sheriff Basinger was elected to the first of 5 terms as Sheriff in 1968. Prior to that he was a member of the Cole County Sheriff's Department Auxiliary. Interred: Riverview Cemetery, Jefferson City, MO.