Incident
Trooper David Dees was killed in a traffic crash on Trinkaloe Road as he was attempting an enforcement action and lost control of his unmarked vehicle.
The vehicle went into a 10-foot-deep ditch, overturned, and he was knocked unconscious. He was found by several deputies and was transported to a local hospital, where he later died before regaining consciousness. His patrol car was found with the emergency lights activated, but he had made no radio contact with dispatch before the crash.
Trooper Dees had served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for three years.
The bridge on I-40, at the Duplin County line, was renamed in Trooper Dees' memory in 2003.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two sons and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtp72v77tyrwdqd503df6- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Dees 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 Dees.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
North Carolina Highway Patrol has lost 69 officers; 41 of them lost to accidents.
David is one of 205 officers lost to accidents in NC, 30.9% of the 664 remembered there.
David is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
David is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1999, 2 officers at North Carolina Highway Patrol were lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 26 years on record. The heaviest was 1948, with 4.
In 1999, 5 officers in NC were lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 90 years on record. The heaviest was 2018, with 7.
In 1999, 71 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 44th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1999, 78 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 61st heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
David was 31. Of the 41 lost to accidents at North Carolina Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 37; the middle age was 30. David had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
David was 31. Of the 194 lost to accidents in NC whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 46; the middle age was 35. David had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 5.4 years.
David was 31. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. David had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
David was 31. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. David had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 4.9% of these deaths at North Carolina Highway Patrol; March holds the most, 17.1%. Sundays: 14.6%.
April holds 4.9% of these deaths in NC; September holds the most, 12.7%. Sundays: 11.2%.
April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.
April holds 7% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 59.4% of all 69 deaths at North Carolina Highway Patrol, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30.9% of all 664 deaths in NC, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
North Carolina Highway Patrol has 69 officers remembered here, David among them.
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George Ira Thompson
Jul 2, 1929
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Alfonso Jerome Hedgpeth
Oct 23, 1931
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Albert Strong Boney
Nov 15, 1931
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Clarence LeGette Fidler
Mar 20, 1936
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Ralph W. Arnold
Sep 17, 1936
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Isaac Thomas Moore
Jun 18, 1937
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George Cabel Penn
Aug 22, 1937
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A. Brister Smart
Mar 2, 1939
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Henry Thomas Timberlake
Dec 1, 1939
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Thomas B. Whatley
Dec 29, 1947
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Weaver Howard Hogan
Mar 2, 1948
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Joseph Robert Davis
May 3, 1948
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Charles Elem Galloway
May 3, 1948
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Paul Winifred Smith
May 27, 1948
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Richard Warren Jackson
Sep 3, 1949
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Clyde Brown Avent
Dec 12, 1949
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James Thomas Brown
Nov 5, 1957
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Wister Lee Reece
Nov 5, 1957
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Harry Thomas Long
Dec 18, 1959
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David Baxter Searcy
Oct 15, 1960
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Henry Alton Hight, Jr.
May 31, 1962
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Leslie Eugene Pace
Jan 24, 1963
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William Thomas Herbin
Aug 31, 1964
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James Hugh Marshburn
Sep 19, 1964
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John William Wallin
Apr 1, 1966
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Cecil Hartwell Hoffman
Mar 15, 1968
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Paul Johnson Williams
Nov 8, 1970
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Clyde Stephen Perry
Jul 2, 1972
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Joseph Griffin Wright
Sep 27, 1972
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Larry Thomas Walton
Dec 2, 1972
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Robert Randall East
Dec 21, 1972
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Leonard Meeks, Jr.
Dec 25, 1972
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William James Smith, Jr.
Jan 12, 1974
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John Scott Hackett, Jr.
Jun 19, 1974
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James Alvin Parker
Jun 19, 1974
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Jack Daniel Templeton
Sep 30, 1974
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William Dean Arledge
Oct 5, 1974
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Lawrence Canipe, Jr.
Oct 5, 1974
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Guy Thomas Davis, Jr.
Sep 2, 1975
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Hugh Richard Griffin, Sr.
Sep 14, 1975
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Robert Lee Peterson
May 31, 1979
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Giles Arthur Harmon
Apr 9, 1985
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Raymond Earl Worley
May 14, 1985
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Bobby Lee Coggins
Sep 14, 1985
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William Edward Bayless, III
Feb 5, 1988
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Michael Louis Martin
Jul 22, 1988
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Damion Cortez Roberts
Aug 8, 1996
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Lloyd Edward Lowry
Sep 23, 1997
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William Joseph Starling
Jul 20, 1998
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David Harold Dees
Apr 4, 1999
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William Bryant Davis
Oct 21, 1999
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John Henry Duncan, Jr.
Jan 9, 2001
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Calvin Eugene Taylor
Oct 3, 2001
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Anthony Greg Cogdill
May 30, 2003
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Joseph Wynford Oliver
Mar 24, 2004
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David Shawn Blanton, Jr.
Jun 17, 2008
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Andrew James Stocks
Sep 9, 2008
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Kyle Patrick Barber
May 19, 2009
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Bobby Gene Demuth, Jr.
Sep 8, 2012
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Brandon Carroll Peterson
Apr 7, 2017
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Samuel Newton Bullard
May 21, 2018
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Kevin Keith Conner
Oct 17, 2018
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Benjamin Derek Wallace
Nov 2, 2018
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Nolan James Sanders
Mar 27, 2020
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Timothy Lee Howell
Jan 7, 2021
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James Brent Montgomery
Mar 15, 2021
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John Sumter Horton
Jan 3, 2022
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Stien Davis, Jr.
Feb 22, 2026
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Steven J. Perry
Mar 1, 2026
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 54-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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