Driver arrested in fatal Catawba County hit and run, police say

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — One person was killed and another was arrested following a Thursday night hit-and-run crash on NC 127 in Catawba County.

Tony Allen Maltba, 56, of Creston, died after he was struck near Zion Church Road around 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 4.

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Investigators with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said Maltba’s 2008 Ford F150 ran out of gas in the center turning lane near U.S. 321. Maltba exited his truck and was walking in the travel lanes when he was hit.

Maltba died at the scene. The car fled traveling south on NC 127.

Hours later, investigators located the suspected car, a 2002 Saturn, and its driver, Robert Mitchell Lester, 31, several miles away. He was charged with driving while impaired.

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