Pedestrian struck, left for hours on Harnett road

A Dunn woman first told state troopers that she hit a deer Saturday night. An injured pedestrian was found in a roadside ditch nearly 14 hours later.

Posted 7:31 p.m. Sep 7, 2008 — Updated 3:41 p.m. Sep 8, 2008

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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