A rookie South Carolina police officer was fatally struck by an Amtrak train Wednesday while helping a suicidal person off the tracks.
Easley Officer Matthew Hare, 22, was killed around 6 a.m. on the railroad tracks on the outskirts of the city he patrols, which is roughly 10 miles west of Greenville, his police department said.
“Officer Hare died saving the life of someone he did not know. Officer Hare was a hero,” Lt. Ashley Anderson said through tears during a press conference.
Hare — who had only been on the force for five months — and his partner had been searching for the suicidal person for an hour before the tragedy occurred.
Though the exact circumstances of the accident were not revealed, officials said Hare was removing the individual from the tracks when the commuter train barreled through.
The suicidal person whom Hare had saved was taken into custody, though it’s not clear whether they were charged.
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Hare’s partner escaped injury.
Amtrak’s Crescent train, which runs from New York to New Orleans, was delayed about seven hours. No one aboard was hurt, officials said.
According to the department, Hare graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy in March 2023.
Multiple law enforcement agencies held a procession Wednesday afternoon to pay their respects to the fallen officer and a patrol car has been placed in front of the Easley department in honor of Hare.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating Hare’s death.
