Charles Smith
Agency patch
Patrolman

Charles Smith

Ardmore Police Department — Ardmore, OK
Accident
End of Watch September 27, 1915
Age 35
The Vigil Panel 30 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Smith was killed when a Santa Fe railroad car carrying 250 barrels of gasoline exploded at the Ardmore passenger terminal. Dozens of other bystanders were killed as a result of the explosion.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-039C46F2
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Charles. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Smith served with the Ardmore Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Ardmore community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Smith.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Ardmore, Carter County, OK
Platform Identity apd.carter.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 27, 1915
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Patrolman Charles Smith is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In OK, 135 of 582 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 23.2% of this state's fallen. That is 23.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Ardmore Police Department, 2 of 7 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.6% of this agency's fallen.

Ardmore Police Department
2
of 7 officers
28.6% Accident
OK — Statewide
135
of 582 officers
23.2% Accident
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Smith's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Charles Smith Compares

Age at Death
35
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Smith is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
708
May
848
Jun
797
Jul
899
Aug
938
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897