Crime & Safety

Turner Sentenced for Hit-and-Run

Nicholas Clayton Turner, 20, of Winston, pleaded guilty to three counts of hit-and-run and one count of failure to report an accident in Superior Court Thursday morning.

Nicholas Clayton Turner, 20, of Winston, pleaded guilty to three counts of hit-and-run and one count of failure to report an accident in Thursday morning.

Turner was charged with hitting a teenager with his vehicle and then fleeing the scene of the crime Douglas County District Attorney David McDade said. Judge Robert J. James sentenced the defendant to five years of probation with 60 to 120 days to be served in boot camp. Turner will also be required to pay restitution to the victim, submit to a drug and alcohol evaluation and successfully complete a driving class.   

According to Assistant District Attorney Bonnie Smith, on Aug. 9, 2011, the victim was struck by the defendant’s vehicle while walking alongside Kings Highway. Turner, who continued driving after the incident occurred, told family members that the damage to the vehicle was caused by him hitting a deer. He later admitted to hitting the victim after authorities received a call from a body shop that inspected the defendant’s vehicle and became suspicious after locating a piece of hair and clothing stuck in the grill.

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The teenager received medical attention after being helped by a woman who heard the crash. The witness, who was driving in the opposite direction, turned around, and called 911 after locating the victim, who was lying in the middle of the road. The victim was life-flighted to a hospital where he was treated for road rash, a serious head injury and other injuries, including a laceration to his neck that required stitches.   

“A case like this would normally result in a prison sentence,” said Assistant District Attorney Smith. “However, the victim’s family hopes that the bootcamp program will be a wakeup call for the defendant, and that the defendant will be a better citizen as a result.”

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