Matt Haley dies in motorcycle crash in Ladakh in August 2014

Matt Haley at Khardungla before the fatal accident on 17th August 2014.
Pic credit: Gaurav Jani


Prominent Delmarva restaurateur and chef Matt Haley, founder and CEO of Matt Haley Companies which operates restaurants in Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach and Ocean View, died from injuries sustained on Monday 17th August 2014 in a motorcycle crash in Leh, India. He was 53.

Haley recently had been battling a recurring bout of cancer. Haley was cancer-free before he left for India.

Haley won the 2014 James Beard Humanitarian of the Year Award in May 2014. Haley was on a six-week humanitarian mission through Northwestern India and Nepal, according to Scott Kammerer, president and COO of the Matt Haley Companies, via a statement.

Kammerer said that on Wednesday 19th August, he was told by U.S. State Department officials that Haley died on Tuesday 18th August 2014 night during a medical flight from Leh to New Delhi, India.

Haley was involved in a “high impact” collision with a truck in Leh on Monday, at the beginning of his humanitarian trip. Haley has devoted significant time and resources to humanitarian efforts in the area. Haley was traveling with an experienced group of between eight to nine motorcycle riders including international filmmaker and motorcycle expert Guarav Jani.

During the trip, Haley posted on his social media accounts about the motorcycle trip he was taking. Haley has been sending updates on his trip through his Facebook page and Instagram and Twitter accounts since 11th August 2014.

On 11th August 2014 Haley wrote on Facebook, "I was on the beach yesterday in Rehoboth Beach De. Today I'll be on a motorcycle headed to Lahdak, India for a three week high altitude motorcycle ride at heights up to 18,500 feet on the highest and some say most dangerous roads in the world on the Pakistan boarder with some bad ass Indian buddies of mine then off to Kathmandu, Nepal for a week to see my daughters, a quick stop home to change clothes and do some laundry (and see my girlfriend, first option) then off to Mexico City to eat some street food for a week. Stay tuned, it's just getting started. ‪#‎haleyslife‬ on Instagram."

On 16th August 2014 around 7.00am (IST) Haley changed his Facebook profile pic to the following and wrote "Ha. This was a simple road at 14,000 feet. I'll be at 18,500 in a few days on the highest road in the world. I must say I now know why they call it getting high." He was hinting on reaching Khardungla.




Matt Haley works on his monk fish stew in Feb 2014