FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Fairmont police claim a woman charged in a hit-and-run Friday made a U-turn before intentionally swerving off the road to strike two pedestrians.
Michelle Kaye Belton, 25, of Fairmont, was arrested hours later and charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of malicious wounding.
She allegedly drove a 1991 Ford Mustang along Boulevard Avenue around 8 a.m. when she passed three pedestrians, turned around and drove back toward them. She accelerated and swerved over five feet off the road to intentionally strike the walkers, hitting two, police said.
Belton continued driving after and drove east on Boulevard toward East Grafton road.
One pedestrian was struck and launched approximately 13 feet, causing an open head wound along with a visible hip and leg injury. That person was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital and their condition is unknown at this time.
Another pedestrian was struck in the left hip and left hand but was not transported to the hospital.
The third walker avoided the vehicle.
The names of the pedestrians have been withheld pending notification of their families.
All of the involved are said to have known to each other prior to the incident, but a motive is not yet clear.
After warrants were issued for Belton, she was located by Fairmont police Friday afternoon and apprehended.
If convicted, she faces 3 to 15 years on each of the two murder counts and 2 to 10 years for the wounding charge.