HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) -- A 33-year-old Chesterfield man has been convicted in a hit-and-run that killed an 18-year-old woman last May.
Reginald K. Addo was convicted Tuesday of felony hit-and-run following the death of Kara Lengyel-Rivers. He was also convicted of driving with a revoked license.
Police said that Addo was driving along Patterson Avenue near Pump Road around 11 p.m. when he struck a pedestrian and drove off.
Lengyel-Rivers was pronounced dead at the scene. Police tracked down Addo, not too far from the scene, and arrested him.
In court, a grieving Jim Lengyel listened to Addo testify.
In his own defense, Addo told the judge that on the night of May 29, 2012, around 11 p.m., he was driving east on Patterson Avenue.
Addo claims a bug flew in to his eye causing him to swerve and hit something, but said he didn’t realize it was a person.
In fear of being caught driving on a revoked license, he pulled off the roadway, got out of sight and placed 15 phone calls to loved ones before police discovered him.
After three and a half hours of testimony from both sides, Addo was convicted.
Lengyel thinks the conviction was fair.
“I think it was obvious that he was guilty based on the evidence,” he said.
The evidence included traces of Kara Lengyel-Rivers’ blood on the windshield of Addo’s car.
While Addo's mother believes her son should have stopped, she defends him.
“I mean, he should have [stopped], but he panicked. He was scared. I might did that.,” she said.
Addo will be sentenced in two months. He faces up to 11 years in prison.
Patricia Addo thinks it's too much.
“I think he`s served his time. We can`t bring her back, you know?” Addo said.
“If they had a young child or a young adult killed instantly like that, they would think different,” Lengyel said.
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