Caldwell County Crash Leads To Murder Charge

28-year-old Randy Deion Collins of Franklin, N.C. was arrested Saturday (November 16) by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. He’s charged with felony counts of second-degree murder and speeding to elude arrest. Collins is also charged with multiple traffic offenses including driving while subject to impairing substance, and reckless driving to endanger.

On Saturday at approximately 7:15 p.m., a State Highway Patrol member attempted to stop a Ford F250 pickup truck for a speeding violation on U.S. 321 in Caldwell County. The violator failed to stop and proceeded to flee. They traveled onto Hibriten Drive SW and failed to stop for a red light at the intersection of U.S. 321A and collided with a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek that was traveling south on U.S. 321A.

The driver of the Subaru was identified as 50-year-old Roger B. Lim of Hickory. Mr. Lim died at the scene as a result of his injuries. He was a physician at Caldwell Memorial Hospital in Lenoir. The suspect was identified as Randy Deion Collins. Speed and impairment are suspected factors in the collision.

Collins was incarcerated in the Caldwell County Detention Center with no bond. The State Highway Patrol’s Collision Reconstruction Unit is assisting with the investigation.

Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY