Pedestrian struck, left for hours on Harnett road

Coats, N.C. —

A Dunn woman first told state troopers that she hit a deer along a Harnett County road Saturday night. But passersby found an injured pedestrian in a roadside ditch nearly 14 hours later.

State troopers say Amy Whitman, 25, of Dunn, crossed left of the center line of Brick Mill Road and struck Kevin West around 10:15 p.m. Both Whitman and West were traveling east.

Investigators said Whitman left the scene and moved the vehicle from the crash site.

West was stranded along Brick Mill Road until noon Sunday when passersby found him and called 911. Troopers said he was in a ditch 10 feet from the road, about a mile from from the site of the wreck.

West was conscious but constantly yelling when he was found, troopers said. He taken to Betsy Johnson Memorial Hospital in Dunn and then to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. West was listed in critical condition Sunday night.

Troopers said that Whitman told them that she hit a deer when they first questioned her.

Whitman was charged with driving while impaired and was being held under a $750 bond. Troopers said they planned to meet with the Harnett County district attorney on Monday to determine what other charges should be filed.

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Latest Comments

I have also noticed one thing about North Carolina....North Cartolina hates sidewalks. And on rural roads...it would be nice to have more space between the road and the ditch and I hate having to bump into mailboxes. Too dangerous to walk.

manofjustice
September 8, 2008 8:07 p.m.

If we had better transportation in Wake County I wouldn't worry about drunk drivers. If you are drunk I will pay to get you home on a train or bus. I wish we could do that. Drunk drivers are humans also. We need to help them. It is so easy to sit back and say they need to be put under the jail when the truth of the matter is they needed to be treated with respect and helped just like anyother citizens in the US. If we give them access to better transportation and they don't use it they should be taken straight to prison. I really feel our justice system doesn't really try to help anyone. I wish I could be in control of laws for 1 day.

manofjustice
September 8, 2008 7:47 p.m.

From the Dunn Daily Record, Monday, Sept 8...

"Ms. Whitman was initially charged with driving while impaired, but after meeting with the prosecutors this morning, additional charges have been filed. The driver is now facing one felony count of hit and run, one felony count of serious injury by a motor vehicle with intent to kill, careless and reckless driving and one count of resist, delay and obstruction. She is being held under a $100,000 bond."

Paper doesnt specify anything regarding the timeline of events, but does state he was found 1 mile from crash site. Not sure how he got there, maybe crawled or dragged himself. Paper also states they were in some kind of relationship. Love quarrel, drunk driver, or not, that road is very curvy and most places very dark. And if Im not mistaken only has a 45 mph speed limit. Needs to be less. Prayers for him and his family.

are we there yet
September 8, 2008 11:54 a.m.

10:15 p.m? In total darkness? Plus the driver was drunk? Didn't the pedestrian see or hear the car coming in a rural, open location? Something is missing in this story...

jse830fcnawa030klgmvnnaw+
September 8, 2008 11:51 a.m.

I think that we should wait to find out more evidence before we start making our opinions on this one we need to find out how this guy is doing and whatt he real story is instead of bits and pieces that do not even make any sense