Morgantown man charged with homicide by vehicle in Greene County crash
A Morgantown, W.Va., man is facing felony charges in a fatal crash after he allegedly hit a woman’s vehicle head-on in Greene County and fled the scene April 16.
Kaleb Demont Walters, 25, of Linden Street, allegedly offered money to a woman to take him from the scene. The victim, Faye Whipkey, 78, of Brave, died five days later at the hospital.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Walters was speeding while driving south on Toms Run Road near Morris Run Road in Wayne Township, Greene County, and crossed into the opposing lane of traffic about 3:10 p.m., hitting Whipkey’s vehicle. A witness, Steven L. Smith, saw Walters climb out of his window, circle his vehicle and look at Whipkey several times, according to court documents. He then pulled the license plate from his car and fled to the nearby RV campground, the affidavit states. There, Walters allegedly offered Alana B. Craig money to take him from the scene, which she declined.
Smith tracked Walters and found him lying along railroad tracks. Walters started to get up and walk away, and Smith told him to stop and stay where he was. Smith stayed with Walters until authorities from the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department and West Virginia State Police arrived.
Walters and Whipkey were both taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. Whipkey died during the early morning hours of April 21 from multiple injuries.
Police found Walters’ registration plate and other documents under a piece of insulation near the place Walters was found. Police said his license plate had been expired since March 2015.
He is charged with accidents involving death or personal injury, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, accidents involving death or injury while not properly licensed, tampering with physical evidence and accident involving damage to attended property. State police issued a warrant for his arrest Thursday.
According to Whipkey’s obituary, she was one of the first women to enter the coal mines in the 1970s. Her husband died in 1966 at age 31, and Whipkey began working as a shuttle car operator in Blacksville II mine until 2000.
She had seven children, 18 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.