16-year-old killed in Burke hit-and-run

A 16-year-old male was walking in the middle of a rural road in Burke County when he was struck and killed by a vehicle early Sunday.

The driver of the vehicle did not stop, said Sgt. Ben Sanders of the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

The incident occurred about 5 a.m. on George Hildebrand School Road in Connelly Springs.

The victim was identified as Justin Laws, according to a report by WBTV, the Observer’s news partner. Laws was pronounced dead at the scene.

The teen lived with his grandmother and was walking west on George Hildebrand School Road, the same direction the vehicle was traveling. There are no sidewalks beside the road in the sparsely traveled area, Sanders said.

WBTV reported that driver turned himself in about 4 p.m. Sunday. The Highway Patrol had not released the name of the driver but said charges were pending, the station reported.

This story was originally published September 20, 2015 at 10:32 AM with the headline "16-year-old killed in Burke hit-and-run."