Boone, NC (September 23, 2026) - Two pedestrians were seriously injured when a vehicle left West King Street near 1358, struck them and fled around 11:30 p.m., according to Boone Police.

Boone Police, Boone Fire Department and Watauga County EMS responded, and both pedestrians were transported to Watauga Medical Center. The injured pedestrians were identified as Joshua Dotson, 20, and Deedra McCullough, 29.

Investigators used surveillance footage from nearby businesses and vehicle debris recovered at the scene to identify the vehicle. On September 29, police arrested Tristan Joseph Schreiber, 29, and charged him with two counts of felony hit and run resulting in serious bodily injury and failure to maintain lane control.

Reported injuries included fractures and internal organ damage. One pedestrian sustained fractures of the right leg, right arm and pelvis; the other sustained fractures of the jaw, right arm and right leg. The available account did not establish their subsequent recovery. The charges are allegations, not a determination of guilt.

Keep an Arrest Update Separate From the Original Search

The arrest changes an important part of the public account of this Boone collision. The initial report described a search for an unidentified vehicle and driver. The September 29 update identifies the person charged. Someone sharing the earlier report should include that later development so an old request for help does not continue circulating as though investigators had announced no progress.

An accurate update can identify the charges while keeping their meaning clear. Police making an arrest does not establish a conviction. There is no need to add guesses about a motive, repeat an unverified identification from social media or predict the outcome of a criminal case. The confirmed development is specific: police identified and charged a suspect after investigating the collision.

The pedestrians' recovery is a separate question. Information about hospital discharge, returning to work or further treatment would need to come from a separate recovery update. Their initially reported injuries should not be presented as a current medical update. Family members may also choose to keep recovery details private even when information about the investigation is public.

Someone with questions about their own injury expenses can speak with a pedestrian accident injury attorney about whether a claim may be available. That conversation can address the person's circumstances without depending on social media speculation about the criminal case. An attorney's assessment and the police investigation serve different purposes.

Bring Your Own Questions to the Conversation

After a serious pedestrian injury, questions about treatment expenses or time away from work can remain even when police announce an arrest. Begin with the concern affecting you and explain what you know about it. A conversation with Rosensteel Fleishman can help clarify whether a claim may be available and what information would be useful for assessing that concern.

Keep the original crash date and the later arrest date distinct when discussing the incident. If you have new information about the collision itself, contact investigators directly. If your question concerns your injuries or expenses, explain those circumstances in a private legal conversation rather than asking others to decide responsibility online.