LAURINBURG — A Cameron man has been named the suspect in the fatal hit and run accident involving a Laurinburg woman last Wednesday.

According to 1st Sgt. Joel Williams with the North Carolina Highway Patrol, Michael Freeman was identified as the driver in the hit and run that killed 51-year-old Dorthea Ridenour.

The incident happened on Hwy. 74 Business around 5:30 a.m. while Ridenour was walking on the eastbound shoulder to work. She was reportedly wearing a reflective vest and reflective hat at the time. She was believed to have been struck from behind and came to rest in a deep ditch, where she was found by co-workers from the plant who noticed she did not show up for work and recognized her hat laying on the shoulder near the scene.

Officials were called to the scene at around 8:30 a.m. that same day. The vehicle left its right-side mirror at the scene, which was then tracked back to an Aberdeen Coca-Cola bottling company vehicle, according to WLNC radio. WLNC also reported that the Highway Patrol gained possession of that vehicle on Friday.

As the investigation is still on-going, Freeman has not yet been arrested and charged, but those charges will be coming in the near future according to the Highway Patrol.

Reach Katelin Gandee at 910-506-3171 or at [email protected]

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Driver in fatality is expectedto be arrested, charged soon

Katelin Gandee

Staff writer