Md. man gets probation in pedestrian fatality

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) — A Frederick man has avoided prison time for a hit-and-run involving a pedestrian who later died.

The Frederick News-Post reports (http://bit.ly/1Cq7Q6w ) that 20-year-old Matthew Pittman pleaded guilty Wednesday to failure to stop at an accident scene. The judge suspended a 10-year prison sentence and placed Pittman on three years’ probation. He also must perform 500 hours of community service.

Pittman didn’t stop his pickup after hitting 32-year-old Levon Hallenbeck along a major thoroughfare on July 10, 2013. Investigators say a second driver didn’t see Hallenbeck lying in the road and hit him again minutes later. That driver stayed at the scene.

Pittman turned himself in after reading about the incident.

Pittman apologized in court to Hallenbeck’s family, who told the judge they didn’t want the tragedy to ruin Pittman’s life.

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Information from: The Frederick (Md.) News-Post, http://www.fredericknewspost.com

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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