A 29-year-old Lenoir man is facing felony charges after Boone Police say he struck two pedestrians on West King Street and fled the scene, leaving investigators to piece together his identity from vehicle debris and surveillance footage over the following six days. Tristan Joseph Schreiber was taken into custody on September 29 and now faces two counts of felony hit and run resulting in bodily injury, along with one count of failure to maintain lane control.
The collision happened at approximately 11:34 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23, near 1358 West King Street by the intersection at Highway 321, according to WataugaOnline. Boone Police, Boone Fire Department, and Watauga County EMS all responded to the scene, per WCCB Charlotte, after a vehicle reportedly left the roadway and struck two pedestrians walking alongside it. Initial investigation indicated the crash caused potentially life-threatening injuries.
The victims were identified as 20-year-old Joshua Dotson of Vilas and 29-year-old Deedra McCullough of Boone. Both were transported to Watauga Medical Center for treatment, WCCB Charlotte reported, though their current medical conditions have not been disclosed.
Surveillance Footage and Roadway Debris Cracked the Case
Investigators spent nearly a week working the case before making an arrest. According to WataugaOnline, officers identified Schreiber's vehicle with the help of surveillance camera footage recovered from a nearby business, combined with vehicle debris collected at the crash scene the night of the collision. That combination of evidence ultimately led further investigation to the vehicle believed to have fled the scene.
West King Street is a heavily trafficked commercial corridor linking downtown Boone with surrounding neighborhoods and Appalachian State University, carrying a steady mix of vehicle and foot traffic near campus, the outlet noted. What exactly caused the vehicle to leave the roadway that night remains unclear, and Boone Police have not said whether additional charges could still be filed.
No Bond as Suspect Awaits November Court Date
Following his arrest, Schreiber appeared before a Watauga County magistrate, who ordered him held without bond pending transfer to the Watauga County Detention Center, per WataugaOnline. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance in Watauga District Court on November 25.
The felony hit-and-run charges Schreiber faces carry significant weight under state law. Under North Carolina General Statute § 20-166(a), failing to stop at the scene of a crash resulting in serious bodily injury is classified as a Class F felony, according to Randall Law PLLC, which carries a potential sentence ranging from 10 to 41 months in prison.
A Broader Pattern of Pedestrian Danger on NC Roads
The Boone case lands amid a troubling statewide trend. According to North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles data published in 2025, 281 pedestrians were killed in North Carolina motor vehicle crashes in 2024, a 12% jump from the year before, per Rosensteel Fleishman Car Accident & Injury Lawyers. Longer-term state figures compiled by the North Carolina Office of Human Resources show 1,363 suspected serious pedestrian injuries and 1,083 pedestrian fatalities statewide between 2015 and 2019.
Locally, Watauga County has recorded its own share of pedestrian crashes over the years. The county logged 21 non-fatal pedestrian injury crashes in 2016 and 14 in 2015, alongside an overall crash rate of more than 370 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
