Wayne County Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Fatal West Virginia Turnpike Hit-and-Run
Anthony Hay, 61, received the maximum five-year prison sentence in Fayette County on Thursday for a fatal October 2025 hit-and-run on the West Virginia Turnpike that killed Jack Walter of Middlesex, North Carolina, wvmetronews.com reported. Hay pleaded guilty in August to aggravated vehicular homicide, a felony, after driving a commercial box truck that drifted off the highway and struck Walter while his vehicle was disabled on the shoulder.
Dash Camera Evidence Documents 15-Mile Drive After Collision
Fayette County Prosecuting Attorney Anthony Ciliberti Jr. stated during the sentencing hearing that dash camera footage from Hay’s commercial truck recorded the moment of the October 3 collision. According to Ciliberti, the video shows the vehicle sustaining a severe jolt as it struck both Walter and the stationary car on the shoulder. Hay continued driving for approximately 15 miles before taking the final exit before the Chelyan tollbooth.
Surveillance and dash camera footage documented Hay parking the box truck beneath an underpass. Ciliberti noted that Hay walked to the front right of the vehicle, manipulated the damaged fender with his hands, and used a rag to wipe down the front portion of the truck.
Altered Photographs and Diverted Travel Route
Following the stop beneath the underpass, Hay drove into Charleston via a two-lane highway rather than using his standard daily route on the Turnpike. Ciliberti stated that GPS trackers on the commercial vehicle showed Hay consistently used the Turnpike from Raleigh County to Charleston on previous work days, making the detour on the day of the crash anomalous.
When state police questioned Hay, he claimed the front-end damage resulted from striking a deer. Investigators later examined Hay’s mobile phone and discovered he had photographed dead deer on the side of the road and altered the creation timestamps to match the date of the fatal collision. When confronted by law enforcement regarding the falsified photos, Hay terminated the interview.
Ciliberti noted that data analysts reviewing Hay’s mobile device found no evidence of distracted driving prior to the crash. Prosecutors stated that truck data indicated Hay drifted across the fog line into the shoulder multiple times before striking Walter.
Ciliberti criticizes Hay for lack of accountability
Both Walter’s family and Hay’s family attended the proceedings in Fayetteville. Ciliberti criticized the defendant’s lack of accountability during the court appearance.
He had the opportunity to speak to the family; he chose not to speak at all,
Ciliberti said. It was his opportunity to apologize, and he didn’t even avail himself.
The maximum penalty of one to five years imprisonment followed a newly enacted state legislative statute. Ciliberti expressed a desire for lawmakers to increase the prison terms for vehicular homicide cases involving active cover-up efforts, noting the tragic reliance on a fatality to prompt stricter penalties.
What specific charges did Anthony Hay plead guilty to?
What specific charges did Anthony Hay plead guilty to?
Hay pleaded guilty in August to aggravated vehicular homicide, a felony charge stemming from the October 3 fatal collision on the West Virginia Turnpike.
How did investigators link the commercial box truck to the incident?
State police contacted commercial carriers to identify vehicles matching the timeframe and location. Investigators ultimately utilized dash camera footage recovered from Hay’s truck to confirm the vehicle and driver involvement.
What route did Hay take after exiting the Turnpike?
Hay took the last exit before the Chelyan tollbooth, parked underneath an underpass, wiped down the front of the truck, and traveled into Charleston on a two-lane highway instead of his usual Turnpike route.
Keep reading