North Carolina Highway Patrol, North Carolina
End of Watch: Thursday, October 21, 1999
Age: 47
Tour of Duty: 26 years
Badge Number: D-233
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: October 21, 1999
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Arrested later
Trooper William Davis was killed when he lost control of his patrol car on McConnell Road while responding to a felony traffic stop on I-85.
As Trooper Davis rounded a curve, his patrol car slid into a pickup truck and then into a tree. Two other troopers who were following close behind immediately stopped and attempted to revive him. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead approximately an hour and 45 minutes later. The subject of the felony traffic stop was arrested later in the day.
Trooper Davis had served in law enforcement for 27 years. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, parents, brother, and sister.
In 2006, the Mt. Hope Church Road bridge over Interstate 40/85 at, exit 132, was renamed the Trooper W. B. Davis Bridge.