Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Samuel Bullard was killed in a vehicle crash while involved in a pursuit on I-77, near mile marker 82 in Yadkin County, at approximately 11:00 pm.
He and another trooper were conducting a drivers license checkpoint when a black BMW sped through and refused to stop. The troopers pursued the vehicle onto I-77. When the lead trooper no longer saw Trooper Bullard behind him, and could not raise him on the radio, he broke off the pursuit and turned around. Trooper Bullard's vehicle was located at mile marker 82 at a bridge abutment fully engulfed in flames.
The vehicle that was being pursued was later found abandoned. The driver was identified, arrested, and charged with murder, felony eluding, and driving on a revoked license.
On March 19, 2019, the 23-year-old driver pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Two passengers who tried to hide the car were also sentenced to prison.
Trooper Bullard had served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for three years and was assigned to Surry County.
He is survived by his fiancee, parents, brother, sister, grandparents, and extended family.
Survivors
He is survived by his fiancee, parents, brother, sister, grandparents, and extended family.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-309A7225- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Bullard gave the North Carolina Highway Patrol 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Bullard.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper Samuel Newton Bullard 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. Samuel Newton Bullard's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel Newton Bullard Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 12 years
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel Newton Bullard 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.
