Tod-Jaa Dazu-Juan Tilley
The Highway Patrol says the suspect’s stolen 2019 Toyota Camry slammed into the 2007 Honda Pilot that was trying to make a left turn onto NC Highway 16 from Fairgrounds Road. The man driving the SUV, Clint Carlton Hoke, 62 of Hiddenite, was killed and his passenger, Bridget Rivers Preston, age 50 of Hiddenite, was airlifted from the scene with life-threatening injuries.
The crash was reported around 1:30 pm.
Tod-Jaa Dazu-Juan Tilley, age 38 of Taylorsville, has been identified as the suspect driving the stolen car. He was pulled from the burning vehicle and taken to an area hospital with non life-threatening injuries. He was released from the hospital and taken into custody.
Tilley is being held in the Alexander County Detention Center under a secured bond of $1 million. He’s charged with death by vehicle, flee to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, possession of stolen goods, driving left of center, reckless driving to endanger and driving with license revoked.
Tilley has an extensive criminal history that dates back to at least 2010.
The chase started when a NC Highway Patrol Trooper spotted the stolen car in the parking lot of the Taylorsville Wal-Mart store. The suspect driver fled from law enforcement at a high rate of speed on Highway 16 south. The pursuit lasted for around two miles prior to the crash.
Highway 16 was closed until around 1am Friday.
Photo: Alexander County Detention Center
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