Morgantown man charged with manslaughter in fatal hit-and-run in Fairchance
A West Virginia man faces involuntary manslaughter and related charges in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash Wednesday in Fairchance.
After a high-speed chase, police arrested Stephen Lemro, 74, of Morgantown shortly after the crash, which occurred about 2 p.m. at the intersection of Church and Morgantown streets.
Police said Paula Silvis, 70, was hit by a car crossing Morgantown Street. She was transported to WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital, where she died.
Witnesses spotted a two-door Chevrolet Cavalier driving north on Morgantown Street after the crash, according to the criminal complaint. Two troopers then saw a car matching the description with a damaged hood driving west on Church Street.
Lemro ignored officers’ signals to pull over, the affidavit of probable cause said, turning south onto Morgantown Street. As police pursued him, Lemro allegedly drove at high speeds before finally pulling over on Route 857 south of Pringle Lane.
When police informed Lemro a pedestrian had been hit, he told them, “Oh, I hit a person, I thought I hit a deer,'” the complaint said.
Lemro reportedly told police he believed the light at the intersection was red at the time of the collision. Charging documents indicated he continued running errands after that.
While parked at Shop n’ Save, Lemro saw an ambulance drive by, which gave him second thoughts on whether he had hit a deer, police said.
From there, he started driving back toward West Virginia before officers spotted him on Church Street, the complaint said.
“At this point, Lemro advised me that all he wanted to do was get out of Fairchance,” Trooper Troshawn Mickens wrote in the affidavit.
The location Lemro gave police for the incident matched the spot where Silvis was hit, police said. Investigators also found a broken piece of bottle on the hood of Lemro’s car matching one found at the scene.
Lemro is charged with felonies of accidents involving death or personal injury, and fleeing or attempting to elude an officer. He is also charged with a misdemeanor count of involuntary manslaughter and summary citations for reckless driving.
Lemro is lodged at the Fayette County jail after being unable to pay $100,000 bail.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 10 before Judge Richard Kasunic.