On March 13th, 1974, Sergeant Rabun was responding to conduct a follow up investigation in an area southeast of Winter Haven. At approximately 1:20 p.m., his vehicle was struck by a train at the rail road crossing, located on Hoover Road, north of SR 655, in Eloise. Sergeant Rabun died at the scene as a result of injuries sustained during the crash.
Sergeant Rabun was 26 years old at the time of his death.