Ceremony dedicates Duplin County bridge to fallen highway patrolman

DUPLIN COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - A bridge in Duplin County is now known as Trooper Ben D. Wallace Bridge in memory of the late trooper.

North Carolina state troopers, family and friends gathered at the Agriculture Center in Duplin County Tuesday to unveil the new sign, now displayed at the bridge that bears Wallace’s name.

Master Trooper Ben Wallace served with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol for 10 years.

“Ben was just local here in Duplin County and graduated high school here in east Duplin,” said Master Trooper Paul Howard. “He was a heavy truck mechanic before he joined the highway patrol. He was dedicated to the county, and he believed in helping people when they needed it.”

In November 2018, Trooper Wallace died from a heart attack. NC State Highway Patrol told WITN he clocked out after helping at the scene of an accident with injuries on NC 241. On Tuesday, a sign that now hangs high on NC 24 above the Northeast Cape Fear River was unveiled.

District First Sergeant Jason Casteen worked alongside Wallace for years. He says the dedication means everything to the community.

“The biggest thing is that we finally got the opportunity to honor Ben and his service to his state and his county,” said District 1st Sergeant Casteen.

Though a hole was left within the Duplin County State Highway Patrol, Howard says Wallace’s legacy will live on.

“Everyone here is local or riding by and see that sign, and they think, well, that’s Ben,” said Howard. “He is still around, and we can always ride by if we ever think about something.”

Trooper Wallace’s last day on watch was November 2nd, 2018.