Harlan M. Smith
Agency patch
Patrolman

Harlan M. Smith

South Carolina Highway Patrol — Blythewood, SC
Accident
End of Watch September 23, 1940
Age 26
Tour of Duty 3 mo
The Vigil Panel 77 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Smith was killed in a motorcycle accident on SC Highway 9 while on patrol in Chesterfield County at approximately 0045 hours. Patrolman Smith and a Pageland police officer were returning to Pageland after having stopped a traffic violator when Patrolman Smith's motorcycle veered off of the roadway and struck a tree. Patrolman Smith was killed instantly upon impact. Patrolman Smith had served with the South Carolina Highway Patrol for only 3 months and was assigned to the Pageland-Chesterfield District.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Patrolman Smith served with the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of South Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Smith.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Blythewood, Fairfield County, SC
Platform Identity schp.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 23, 1940
Tour of Duty 3 mo
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Harlan is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1940, 67 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 59th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Harlan was 26. 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. Harlan had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

South Carolina Highway Patrol has 52 officers remembered here, Harlan among them.

Across the years

Patrolman Harlan M. Smith

South Carolina Highway Patrol · End of Watch September 23, 1940

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 33-E

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