Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman William Smith was killed in an automobile crash while pursuing a traffic violator on N.C. Highway 101 in Carteret County. His vehicle struck a bridge abutment and burst into flames. Rescuers were unable to approach the vehicle when they arrived because his ammunition was exploding as a result of the heat. Patrolman Smith was assigned to Troop A, District 8.
Survivors
He had served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for 25 years and was survived by his wife and son, who later went into law enforcement, and by his daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-7525B3CF- 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
25 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Smith gave the North Carolina Highway Patrol 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman William James Smith, Jr. 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. William James Smith, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How William James Smith, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William James Smith, Jr. is highlighted in Jan.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
68 officers from North Carolina Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
