wxii 12 morning anchor tolly carr – photo from the news & record

WXII 12 morning show anchor and Greensboro resident Tolly Carr, 32, was charged with driving while impaired after an accident on March 11 that resulted in the death of Casey Ryan Bokhoven, 26, who died at the scene.

The accident occured around 3:40 am in a work zone on West First Street in an area of Winston-Salem known for its clubs and bars. I’ve spent many a night at these pubs. There are a few Cheers like bars in this area of Winston, where everybody knows your name, and night after night you spy the same sweaty faces and coke reddened eyes through the cig smoke.

killed by carr’s vehicle

Bokhoven’s family said he was with friends at the popular Winston eatery Twin City Diner that morning and was walking home when the incident occurred.

Carr, driving a 1997 Ford F-150 apparently hit Bokhoven, then kept on driving until he collided with building.

Here is a report on Carr’s own WXII (an NBC affiliate) on the incident:

Witnesses reported the sounds of a loud car barreling down the road before the accident. One witness in one of the many news reports on the accident said that he “saw a body under the rear wheel when he went to help Carr and his passenger”

Carr, who has worked at WXII since 2000, was treated for minor injuries. His passenger, Fjola Ingvadottir Wilson, 33, another WXII employee was admitted to WFU Baptist Medical Center and was last reported in stable condition.

An investigation is underway and Carr could face more charges. It is unclear what Carr’s future will be at the station.

After the crash Carr refused a breathalyzer, but a search warrant was issued for his blood which was obtained and is being tested for his blood alcohol level at the time of the accident.

Police reported smelling alcohol on Carr, who failed field sobriety tests given by officers at the scene.

Carr was released shortly after being arrested without paying bail on a written promise to come to court on April 2, 2007.

Bokhoven’s older brother was seen on WXII during the 6 o’clock news today saying how distressed he was that Carr didn’t have to pay any bail.

He bitterly said something to the effect of “If you got in a fight and got arrested you would have to pay more to get out of jail”.

He also said that he wanted to ask Carr if he had ever had to call his parents and tell them that their son was killed in an accident, and he expressed anger over Carr having an established career, while his brother’s career and life were cut short.

Bokhoven was a chef at Forsyth Country Club, and planned on going to New York in the near future to go to culinary school to improve his cooking skills.

Talk in the Triad is heavy over this incident, with some already guessing Carr will be charged with either vehicular homocide or involuntary manslaughter.

There are also rumors circulating that Bokhoven’s girlfriend, who works at one of the bars and restaurants in the area, called 911 after being told that there was an accident outside, but didn’t know at the time the person in the accident was her boyfriend.

Many people in the Triad, while feeling sorry for the loss of Bokhoven’s life, are also expressing sorrow for Carr. Carr, as the talk around town goes, was the first in his family to go to college and seemed to have a bright future ahead in broadcasting.

I liked seeing the brotha represent on the WXII morning show, which I watch regularly, because he handled his duties as an anchor with humor and heart.

Damn Tolly.

This is a really tragic event for everyone involved, and if anything comes out of this I hope this incident will serve to remind folks of the dangers of mixing alcohol with driving.

I also wish someone would do a news special or article on how many journalists are alchololics and druggies.

It’s rampant in the industry.

Filed Under: tolly carr, casey bokhoven, drunk driving, dui, dwi, alcoholism