The investigation of a fatal hit and run accident in Kanawha County this week took an unexpected turn.
Kanawha County sheriff’s deputies now believe the woman behind the wheel of the vehicle which struck Terry Stanley, 50, of Hernshaw was an 80-year-old who suffered from Alzheimer’s.
“Some individuals from Kentucky indicated their mother, who is 80, was in the area and had some damage to her truck which matched the description of the one we were looking for,” said Kanawha County Chief Deputy Mike Rutherford. “She was not sure what happened, but from the evidence we collected at the scene it matched all damage to the vehicle she was driving that night.”
There is no doubt in the mind of investigators the woman is the suspect they were looking for. The revelation took the case in a completely different direction for deputies.
“In over 40 years I’ve been a police officer in this county, this is the first time I’ve heard of this type of case,” Rutherford said. “Typically it’s somebody who is intoxicated by drugs or alcohol and they flee the scene because they think they are going to get into more trouble, but in this particular case, it’s just a tragic situation all the way around.”
The Kanawha County Prosecutor is reviewing evidence in the case and deputies still have more work in the investigation before a determination is made on whether the women will be charged. Right now it doesn’t appear she’ll be prosecuted according to Rutherford.
One of the unresolved questions is why an 80 year old woman diagnosed with Alzheimer’s was driving at 10:30 p.m.
“That’s one of the things we’re checking into,” said Rutherford. “We know from past dealings with individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia they are at times able to sneak off and get into a vehicle without the knowledge of family members.”
Investigators said the woman had a valid drivers license.
Stanley was struck by a second vehicle as he lay in the middle of Lens Creek Road after the initial impact. The second driver stopped and called 911. The medical examiner will determine whether the first or second impact killed him, but Rutherford said judging from the level of damage to the first vehicle it appeared very likely he was dead before the second motorist ran over him. He added the second driver also stopped and sought help.
Authorities have not released the identity of the 80-year-old driver.