Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Nevan Matthew Hopkins
Age : 20
Gender : Male
Race : White
Date : 08/15/2023
Location : East Main Street near South Hampton Street
City : Westminster
County : Oconee
State : South Carolina
Agency : South Carolina Highway Patrol; Oconee County Sheriff's Office
Officer(s) :Unknown
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Motorcyclist killed by police chase crash
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 08/15/2023, at approximately 12:30 a.m., a South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper observed 20-year-old Nevan Matthew Hopkins operating a motorcycle at a high rate of speed on Sandifer Boulevard (U.S. 76/123) in Westminster. The trooper attempted to conduct a traffic stop for speeding. Hopkins continued riding away while the trooper pursued. The trooper ended the pursuit after Hopkins continued increasing the distance between the motorcycle and the patrol vehicle.
A short time later, an Oconee County Sheriff's Office deputy traveling toward Westminster observed Hopkins approaching from behind at a high rate of speed. The deputy also attempted a traffic stop for speeding. Hopkins again continued riding away while the deputy pursued. The deputy likewise ended the pursuit after the motorcycle continued pulling farther ahead.
After terminating the pursuit, the deputy continued traveling through the area and discovered that Hopkins had crashed on East Main Street near South Hampton Street. The motorcycle had left the roadway and crashed before officers reached the scene. Deputies, Westminster Fire and Rescue personnel, and emergency medical personnel attempted life-saving measures. Hopkins died at the scene at approximately 1:00 a.m.
The Oconee County Coroner identified the deceased as Nevan Matthew Hopkins of West Union. An autopsy determined that he died from blunt-force injuries to the chest and abdomen. The manner of death was ruled accidental.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol investigated the collision. Publicly available records reviewed through August 2026 do not indicate that either the Highway Patrol trooper or the Oconee County deputy used a PIT maneuver, stop sticks, roadblocks, or other forcible intervention before the crash. Both agencies reported that they ended their pursuits before the collision occurred.
No publicly available records identify either the South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper or the Oconee County Sheriff's Office deputy involved in the attempted traffic stops. Consequently, no officer-specific review of prior shootings, pursuits, disciplinary history, lawsuits, or complaints could be completed.The identities of the South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper and the Oconee County Sheriff's Office deputy have not been publicly released in available records.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.audacy.com/989word/news/local/motorcyclist-dies-in-crash-following-police-pursuits
