A traffic-assist call in a Columbus County work zone turned tragic on Thursday, as Deputy Damien Bost of the Columbus County Sheriff's Office was killed in a line-of-duty motor-vehicle collision, the department confirmed. The sheriff’s office is asking residents to keep Bost’s family and fellow deputies in their thoughts and prayers while state troopers handle the investigation. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is leading that probe, and officials say more details will be released once they are ready.
Official Announcement And Investigation
In a public post on Facebook, the Columbus County Sheriff's Office announced that Deputy Damien Bost had died in the line of duty after a motor-vehicle collision. The message asked the community to keep his family and members of the sheriff’s office in their thoughts and prayers during what it described as an incredibly difficult time. The post also noted that the North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances of the crash and that authorities plan to share additional information once troopers complete more of their work.
Crash Scene And Early Reports
Early accounts from local notices, including an online obituary, reported that the collision took place on U.S. 74/76 near the Hallsboro Road exit in Bolton while Bost was assisting with traffic in a repaving work zone. Those reports stated that a tractor-trailer struck the rear of his marked patrol vehicle at about 10:40 a.m. on Thursday, details attributed to Lowkey Funeral Homes. State investigators have not yet publicly confirmed those specifics, and the official reconstruction of the crash remains pending.
Who Bost Was
Public payroll records identify Damien Draper Bost as serving as a deputy with the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office, according to OpenGovPay, confirming his role with the agency. The sheriff’s main office is listed in Whiteville and the department maintains an “In Memory” section honoring officers who have died in the line of duty, per the Columbus County Sheriff's Office website.
Work-Zone Risks And Context
The State Highway Patrol’s investigation is expected to include a review of vehicle information, physical evidence from the scene and construction-related records to piece together what happened in the work zone. Crashes in active construction areas remain a recurring safety issue. The Federal Highway Administration notes that recent FARS data show hundreds of fatal work-zone crashes each year and roughly 800–900 fatalities in recent annual reports, with trucks and rear-end collisions commonly involved. State safety campaigns highlight the need for drivers to slow down and stay alert in construction zones and outline the potential legal consequences for motorists involved in deadly work-zone crashes. In North Carolina, guidance emphasizes education and enforcement efforts in these active work areas.
What Comes Next
The sheriff’s office has said it will release more information as the State Highway Patrol finishes key steps in its investigation and has asked that Bost’s family be given privacy in the meantime. According to the Columbus County Sheriff's Office Facebook post, officials again urged the community to keep Deputy Bost’s loved ones and the sheriff’s office in their thoughts and prayers while investigators work through the case.
