Freak Accident Near Boomer Kills Man

A Claremont man died in a freak accident just the far side of the Caldwell/Wilkes county line in Boomer over the weekend. 33-year old Thomas Dennis Dillard was walking along the side of the road and was killed when a Chevy Tahoe driven by his girlfriend fliped and rolled over on him. According to the highway patrol, what caused the S-U-V to flip is the real question. They know Dillard and Lisa marie Caroll were having an argument, and that both were possibly intoxicated. They know, because Dillard was under the truck that he was outside of it when the incident happened. But they can't tell if Caroll meant to hit Dillard or if he'd jumped up on the running board and scared her, making her lose control of the Tahoe.

It happened along Hollow Springs Circle, off Highway 18, early Sunday morning. The couple had been at a Wilkes county bar earlier in the evening. After being treated at Caldwell Memorial Hospital, Carroll was arrested on a reckless driving charge and for driving while intoxicated. More charges may be forthcoming.