Christiansburg man sentenced to 6 years for two hit and runs in two weeks

Walter Ray Royal after arrest for second hit and run offense. (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

MONTGOMERY COUNTY (WSLS 10) -  A Christiansburg man was sentenced to 11 years in prison - with five of those suspended - plus three years probation for two separate hit and runs in a two-week period.

Walter Ray Royal, 61, received the sentence in Montomgery County Circuit Court Wednesday. His sentence includes a special condition that he complete the Stepping Stones substance abuse treatment program during the three-year probation.

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Royal was accused of hitting a woman driving a moped, then fleeing the scene. The day after the incident, Royal reported his truck stolen, which officers later determined was a lie when it was found in a Walmart parking lot with damage consistent to the hit and run and witness accounts of the incident. Surveillance video from the store showed Royal parking the truck the day of the incident, January 16, 2015.

Royal initially denied hitting the moped driver and lying about the truck being stolen, but ultimately confessed, saying he was scared. He added he had prayed for the victim to be OK. She suffered a broken leg and injuries to her back and neck during the incident.

Royal was arrested and charged with felony hit and run resulting in personal injury. He made bond and was released on Jan. 23.

Five days later, a woman was hit by a car that entered her lane of traffic, then fled. Witness interviews led officers to a car parked at the Bluff apartments with consistent damage and rented in Royal's name. Royal was not found with the car, so a warrant for felony hit and run with property damage exceeding $1000 was obtained.

Royal was arrested on February 6 and has been held in jail since that time.

On September 2, Royal pleaded and was found guilty of felony hit and run with personal injury for the Jan. 16 offense, and an amended charge of misdemeanor hit and run with property damage less than $1000 for the Jan. 28 offense.

During court, Royal apologized for his actions and indicated he has a medical condition known as dumping syndrome, which caused him to soil his clothing and he left the scene because he was embarrassed. The Commonwealth said it pointed out evidence showed he left the scene, entered Walmart, did not call the police until the next day and then reported his truck stolen - rather than admitting he had hit the moped.

In addition, Royal responded in exactly the same fashion on Jan. 28, again fleeing the scene of an accident.