Suspect sought in hit-and-run death
By Nick Hiltunen
Published in News on May 26, 2009 1:46 PM
NEWTON GROVE -- Police are searching for an unidentified Hispanic male accused of running away from a fatal accident he allegedly caused.
Newton Grove Police Chief Frankie Harrell said the accident that killed Ronald D. Viehweger, 39, at the intersection of Harper House Road and U.S. 701 took place around 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Viehweger, of Pointe Drive, Mount Olive was pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities.
Harrell said the investigation shows that Viehweger was riding his motorcycle north on Harper House when a van crossed the center line.
The van struck Viehweger's motorcycle, causing it to skid and killing the cyclist, the chief said.
After the accident, the unidentified male "jumped and ran," getting into another vehicle to escape the scene of the accident, the chief said.
"He ran past the vehicle that was directly behind him, and got into the vehicle that was third in line, so to speak," the chief said.
The van had out-of-state plates, but the chief said he was unsure from the initial report what state the vehicle had been registered in.