South Carolina Highway Patrol, South Carolina
End of Watch: Wednesday, June 12, 2002
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: 941
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle
Date of Incident: June 10, 2002
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Senior Trooper Michael Rao succumbed to injuries sustained two days earlier when he was struck by a pickup truck while assisting a motorist on southbound I-95, near Manning, at 8:30.
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 was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the South Carolina Highway Patrol for four years. He is survived by his wife, 2-year-old daughter, parents, and sister.
On June 12th, 2020, South Carolina Highway Patrol K9 Rao died after having served with the agency for nine years. K9 Rao was named after Senior Trooper Michael Rao.