David Harold Dees

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.