Boone Police have charged a Lenoir man in connection with a hit-and-run collision that resulted in potentially life-threatening injuries for two pedestrians on West King Street last week. Tristan Joseph Schreiber, 29, of Lenoir, was identified and subsequently arrested, now facing multiple serious charges related to the incident.
According to information released by Boone Police, Schreiber has been charged with two counts of felony hit and run resulting in serious bodily injury. Additionally, he faces one count of failure to maintain lane control, indicating the vehicle's departure from the designated roadway. Following his apprehension, Schreiber was brought before a Watauga County magistrate for an initial appearance. During this proceeding, no bond was set for his release, leading to his immediate transfer and detention at the Watauga County Detention Center. He is officially scheduled to appear in Watauga District Court on November 25, 2026, to address these charges.
The charges against Schreiber stem directly from a critical collision that occurred late on Wednesday, September 23. At approximately 11:34 p.m. on that date, emergency services were dispatched after reports of a vehicle striking two pedestrians. Boone Police, Boone Fire, and Watauga County EMS all responded promptly to the scene, located in the vicinity of 1358 West King Street, to provide assistance and begin their investigation.
Police investigators concluded that two pedestrians were walking along the roadway when, for reasons under investigation, a vehicle left the designated travel lanes and collided with both individuals. The vehicle involved in the incident then reportedly left the scene without stopping or rendering aid. The impact of the collision caused potentially life-threatening injuries to both pedestrians involved. Authorities later identified the injured individuals as 20-year-old Joshua Dotson, a resident of Vilas, and 29-year-old Deedra McCullough, a resident of Boone. Both were immediately transported to Watauga Medical Center for critical medical treatment following the incident.
Officers conducted a thorough processing of the accident scene to gather evidence critical to the case. During this meticulous examination, investigators recovered specific vehicle debris believed to have originated from the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run. This crucial physical evidence significantly aided investigators in their efforts to identify the suspect vehicle and, subsequently, to locate the driver involved in the collision. Boone Police further stated that the investigation into the hit-and-run remains active and ongoing. The department indicated that additional information would be released to the public as it becomes appropriate and available.
