Deputy Hayward was killed when he was struck by a drunk driver while diverting traffic from I-80/I-35 onto I-35 as a result of an earlier accident. Deputy Hayward was standing outside of his patrol car when the driver struck him. The man continued driving for over a mile until he was stopped by an Iowa State Trooper near the original accident scene. The suspect was convicted of vehicular homicide, sentenced to 10 years in prison, but was released in only 4 years.

Deputy Hayward was a member of the previously known Alcohol Safety Action Program (ASAP) and the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) program.

Deputy Hayward had just recently returned to duty after having been struck by another drunk driver that had left him with a broken leg.

Deputy Hayward is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.