AMELIA COUNTY, Va. -- An investigation is underway after a woman walking her dog was struck and killed in Amelia County Thursday afternoon. The woman has been identified as Gale N. LaFountain, 70, of Amelia County.
The Amelia County Sheriff’s Office said dispatchers received a call for a "person in a ditch" around 3:20 p.m.
"Arriving deputies found an elderly female victim on the side of Oak Grove Loop, in the Mannboro area," Amelia County Sheriff Ricky L Walker said in a news release. "The victim was pronounced dead at the scene."
Investigators said LaFountain was walking east on Oak Grove Loop when she was struck by an unknown vehicle. They said that her injuries were consistent with that of a hit-and-run.
Her daughter Shannon said that her grandmother's dog stood by her side until investigators got there.
"Winston was with her and wouldn't leave her side," she said.
Gale had lived in the area for about a year, moving down the street near her family after her husband died from cancer.
"Whoever did this, please please turn yourself in," Shannon said. "I can't live looking at my neighbors wondering if they are the ones that did it; I just want justice for my mom."
Officials said Virginia State Police are handling the investigation.
If you have information that could help police, call the Amelia County Sheriff’s Office at 804-561-2118 or Amelia Crime Solvers at 804-561-5200. You can also call Virginia State Police at 1-800-552-9965.
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