February 25, 2007
A man received a suspended jail sentence after confessing to running down an elderly churchgoer with a car, then leaving the scene more than half a century ago.
Verlyn Brady, 77, pleaded guilty yesterday to reckless driving in the 1953 hit-and-run death of George Lewis Dalton in this small, southwest Virginia town.
Brady said he wondered for years whether it was a deer or a person he struck one October night. He waited until last summer, just before he underwent open heart surgery, to contact authorities.
Dalton, 74, and his wife were crossing a road in front of their home about 3 kilometres south of Hillsville on their way to church when he was killed. The driver disappeared into the darkness.
Brady said he was blinded by the headlights of an oncoming vehicle and was not sure what he had struck. He inspected the car later and found a broken headlight and blood on the bumper.
He said he saw a newspaper account of the accident at the time and wondered all these years whether he was responsible. A teenager known for speeding around town was suspected but cleared of the deadly accident.
In addition to a suspended jail sentence, Brady was fined $US500 ($A635) and had his driving privileges restricted for six months.
AP
Source:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/man-confesses-to-1953-hitandrun/2007/02/24/1171734073004.html
Man confesses to 1953 hit-and-run in VA
Discussion in 'Other News' started by Aussie, Feb 24, 2007.
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I'm suprised that they were able to punish him as much as they did. I would have thought the statute of limitations on reckless driving would have expired a long time ago.
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As a death was caused there is no statue of limitation on death/murder and/or culpable driving in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Most States have no limitation on death caused by hit and run or where death follows the injury sustained in the accident - my wife feels "American Citizen" that he should have gotten life in prison or the death penalty. He knew what he had done and waited 54yrs to come forward which is a heinous crime in its own right.
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No he wasnt 'home free'. You see some people have a conscience. This has obviously nawed on him for a long time. -
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JMO: This guy should have faced the same punishment today as he would have all those years ago if he had been caught, the person he killed is still dead that can never be changed, and I am sure his clear conscious is not a comfort to the victims family.
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dont walk in the road....unless the car driver leaves the pavement the person walking is 100% responsible IMHO.
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