Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Paul Smith drowned after losing control of his patrol car on Route 49A in Davidson County. While pursuing a fleeing vehicle, the hood on his patrol vehicle opened, causing him to lose visibility. His car skidded and then struck an embankment before overturning and landing into a water-filled ditch, trapping him inside. He was taken to the hospital in Albemarle where he died the following day. Patrolman Smith was a decorated U.S Army Air Corps veteran of WWII and served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for six months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and young daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-0F46AA54- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Smith served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Paul Winifred Smith served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Paul Winifred Smith is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 205 of 664 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.9% of this state's fallen.
At North Carolina Highway Patrol, 41 of 69 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 59.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Paul Winifred Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Paul Winifred Smith Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Paul Winifred Smith is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
68 officers from North Carolina Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
