BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

PILGRIM — A man died in an all-terrain vehicle accident on Emily Creek early Sunday morning. The deceased has been identified as William Dillon, 29, a resident of Holty Branch, Pilgrim.

The incident came to light around 4:30 a.m. when an individual passing through the area between Jordan Hollow and White Oak dialed 911 after coming across a man, later identified as Dillon, lying motionless in the road with a visibly damaged ATV nearby.

Being the first to arrive, Martin County Sheriff’s deputies found Dillon unresponsive, with clear signs of a serious head injury.

To ascertain the sequence of events leading to this accident, law enforcement relied on video footage from surveillance cameras in nearby homes. Martin County Sheriff John Kirk stated the videos confirmed that Dillon was riding alone and at a significantly high speed when he lost control. The ATV went airborne, ejecting Dillon onto the pavement. The vehicle landed upside down before righting itself.

Martin County Coroner Chris Todd declared Dillon dead at the scene by 5:25 a.m. Todd later transported the deceased’s body to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for an autopsy and toxicology test.

Eyewitnesses shared that Dillon spent Saturday riding ATVs with friends around Emily Creek.

Sheriff Kirk expressed grief over the incident. Familiar with the Dillon family for many years, Kirk conveyed his condolences, saying, “They are fine people. My heart goes out to the family of this young man. I ask that the community keep them in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

The incident prompted a response from various agencies, including the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Martin County Coroner, Kentucky State Police Trooper James Cress, Patriot Ambulance, Martin County Rescue Squad, and the State Highway Department.