Senior Trooper Michael Joseph Rao
South Carolina Highway Patrol
South Carolina
End of Watch: Wednesday, June 12, 2002

Biographical Info
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: 941

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle
Date of Incident: Monday, June 10, 2002
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available

Trooper Michael Rao succumbed to injuries received two days earlier when he was struck by a pickup truck, while assisting a motorist at 0830 hours on southbound I-95 near Manning, South Carolina.

The pickup truck veered off of the road, struck his patrol car and the other vehicle before landing on Trooper Rao. Trooper Rao was flown to a local hospital where he later died of his injuries.

Trooper Rao had served with the South Carolina Highway Patrol for 4 years. He is survived by his wife, 2-year-old daughter, parents, and sister.