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Incident
Police Officer Matthew Hare was struck and killed by an Amtrak train near the 2000 block of East Main Street while attempting to pull a suicidal subject from the railroad tracks.
The subject had called 911 at about 5:00 am while suffering a mental crisis. Officer Hare and another officer located the subject on the tracks at about 6:00 am as the oncoming train approached. The officers were removing the subject from the tracks when Officer Hare was fatally struck. Neither the other officer nor the subject was injured.
Officer Hare had graduated from the police academy only five months earlier. He s survived by his mother, brother, aunt, grandparents, cousin, and stepsister.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Hare served with the Easley Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Easley community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Hare.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Easley Police Department has lost 4 officers; 1 of them lost to accidents.
Matthew is one of 139 officers lost to accidents in SC, 31.4% of the 442 remembered there.
Matthew is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Matthew is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2023, 3 officers in SC were lost to accidents, the 6th heaviest of 71 years on record. The heaviest was 1986, with 6.
In 2023, 43 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 106th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2023, 46 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 110th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Matthew was 22. Of the 120 lost to accidents in SC whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 41; the middle age was 34. Matthew had served 0.4 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Matthew was 22. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Matthew had served 0.4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Matthew was 22. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Matthew had served 0.4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 6.5% of these deaths in SC; June holds the most, 13.7%. Wednesdays: 15.8%.
August holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
August holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 14.6%.
How
Accident deaths account for 25% of all 4 deaths at Easley Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.4% of all 442 deaths in SC, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Easley Police Department has 4 officers remembered here, Matthew among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 13-WT
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Easley Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
