McDowell County, West Virginia — A former McDowell County police chief and his son died in a car accident on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
According to the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, Richard Lee Dillon Sr., former police chief of War, and his son Richard Lee Dillon Jr., both of Bluefield, West Virginia, were killed when a pickup truck hit them head-on on State Route 16 near Squire. The driver of the Dillons’ car, a woman, sustained serious injuries and is still hospitalized.
The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office and the Welch Detachment of the West Virginia State Police responded and took over the investigation. Sergeant Martin of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office told 59News that Brandon Scott Dunford, the driver of the pickup truck, allegedly attempted to pass in a no passing zone while speeding when the two vehicles collided.
Dunford was issued an arrest warrant, and the Sheriff’s Office provided 59News with his photo. Dunford faces charges of failure to maintain, reckless driving, passing in a no-passing zone, and two counts of negligent homicide.
Anyone with additional information about the accident or Dunford’s location should contact the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office or the West Virginia State Police.
