On November 5, 1933 at shortly after 4:00 am, Officer Joseph Theobald while directing traffic at an accident scene in front of Triangle Park, 4100 South Broadway, when he was struck by a drunk driver operating a decorator's second hand vehicle in front of Triangle Park. A tow truck driver Officer Theobald slowed as he approached the officer but the suspect vehicle overtook and drove around the tow truck then struck Officer Theobald, throwing him 60-feet. Officer Theobald was pronounced dead on the way to Alexian Brothers Hospital. The occupants of the vehicle that struck Officer Theobald were returning from a dance and the driver had been drinking and according to witnesses driving at what appeared to be in excess of the 30 mph speed limit. The driver, Dennis Barnet, was charged with manslaughter and sentenced to 2 years in prison.

Officer Theobald had been with the police department for three years, since February 1930, and was assigned to the Wyoming Street Station. He was survived by his wife, Lillian, and two young children. Interred: Peter and Paul's Cemetery.