Hickory residents are mourning the loss of a well-known physician who was killed in an crash with a suspected DWI driver over the weekend.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol verified to Channel 9’s Dave Faherty that Roger B. Lim of Hickory was died in a crash on Saturday evening.
Randy Deion Collins, 31, of Franklin, has been detained and charged with the crash, according to authorities.
According to the highway patrol, the incident began when a trooper attempted to pull over a pickup truck for speeding on Highway 321 in Caldwell County.
According to the highway patrol, Collins was driving the truck and fled from the officer before proceeding to Hibriton Drive SW and running through a red light at Highway 321. Collins’ vehicle collided with Lim’s SUV as she drove south on Highway 321.
Troopers say Lim died at the scene.
According to the highway patrol, Collins was suspected of driving under the influence during the chase and crash.
Collins was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, driving with license revoked, driving while intoxicated, felony fleeing to avoid arrest, speeding at 81 mph in a 55 mph zone, reckless driving, and red light violations. As of Monday, he was being held at Caldwell County Jail without bond.
This story is now airing at 5:30 on Channel 9 Eyewitness News. 2nd update- family members shared some photos of Dr…
Posted by Dave Faherty on Sunday, November 17, 2024
Faherty shared Collins’ mugshot on Facebook, and several people sent their sympathies to Lim’s family. Lim worked out of the emergency room in Lenoir, and many people said he treated them or their family members during his decades of medical practice.