North Carolina Highway Patrol, North Carolina
End of Watch: Tuesday, January 9, 2001
Age: 28
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: B-157
Cause of Death: Vehicle pursuit
Date of Incident: January 9, 2001
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 29 months
Trooper John Duncan was killed in an automobile crash on Turnbull Road while assisting another trooper in a vehicle pursuit.
The other trooper had made a traffic stop and had asked the driver of the vehicle for permission to search it. Trooper Duncan arrived on the scene to assist when the suspect began struggling with the troopers. The suspect was able to return to his vehicle and drive away, with both troopers following.
During the pursuit, Trooper Duncan lost control of his patrol car, crossed the center lane, and struck a group of trees. On impact, the patrol car caught fire and exploded. The suspect was arrested and charged with several traffic and criminal charges in connection with the incident. On July 18th, 2002, the suspect pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 29 months in prison. He was paroled on September 26th, 2003. In May 2016, the man was shot and killed in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Trooper Duncan was a U.S. Army veteran who had served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for two years and was assigned to Trooper B in Cumberland County. He is survived by his wife and three young children.
On November 8th, 2021, the North Carolina Department of Transportation renamed the I-95 overpass at N.C. 87 the Trooper John H. Duncan Jr. Bridge.