A former Surry County deputy was sentenced to prison last week after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and another offense in the traffic death in January of a Dobson man.
Jason Ewel Clark, 38, of Mount Airy, also pleaded guilty to felony hit and run, causing personal injury and driving while impaired in the death of Coy Clifford White, court records show.
White, 78, died on Jan. 18 when Clark's pickup collided with White's car on N.C. 268, about 6 miles south of Dobson, the N.C. Highway Patrol said. White died on the way to a hospital.
Clark was driving his pickup east on N.C. 268 when it crossed the center line and struck White's car before sliding off the road and stopping, the patrol said. Clark then attempted to drive away, but ran into another vehicle.
Clark was not injured, the patrol said.
Clark was initially charged with felony death by motor vehicle, two counts of driving while impaired, felony hit and run, reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident, the patrol said.
A Surry County grand jury later indicted Clark on charges of second-degree murder, driving while impaired, felony hit and run, causing personal injury and reckless driving, court records show.
Judge Anderson Cromer of Surry Superior Court sentenced Clark on Friday to 10 to 13 years in prison, and he recommended that Clark receive treatment for substance abuse while he is prison. A prosecutor dismissed the reckless driving charge.
Clark was a deputy under former Sheriff Connie Watson and under current Sheriff Graham Atkinson, according to the news reports. Graham fired Clark after he was charged in White's death.
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