Man Sentenced to More Than 1 Year for Injuring Woman in 2022 Hit and Run
NORFOLK, Va. — A judge sentenced Ronald Dezego Jr., 52, on Friday to one year and three months in prison for committing a hit-and-run wreck in 2022 that resulted in injuries to the other driver.
On the night of Jan. 24, 2022, Mr. Dezego was driving in the 2400 block of Azalea Garden Road when he crossed the center dividing line and crashed his 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe head-on into a 2010 Ford Focus, injuring the driver of the other car. Despite the victim’s calls for help, Mr. Dezego fled the scene on foot before Norfolk Police arrived. The driver of the Ford Focus suffered severe injuries to her left leg and hip, her hands, and her face, and she needed to be extracted from her vehicle by Norfolk Fire-Rescue responders.
The following day, Mr. Dezego attempted to create a false alibi by calling Norfolk Police to report his car stolen. Investigators impounded Mr. Dezego’s Hyundai Santa Fe and collected his DNA from the deployed airbag. After confirming Mr. Dezego to have been the driver during the crash, officers arrested Mr. Dezego.
On Feb. 6, Mr. Dezego pleaded guilty to felony hit and run resulting in an injury, and Judge Robert B. Rigney accepted his plea with an agreed maximum sentence of one year and six months in prison. On Friday, Judge Rigney sentenced Mr. Dezego to one year and three months in prison, with one year and nine months suspended on the conditions that Mr. Dezego complete substance abuse treatment and one year of supervised probation and uniform good behavior following his release.
“It is a felony to commit a hit and run, because when a wreck happens, everyone needs to stay at the scene and help anyone who is hurt,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Mr. Dezego hurt the victim, and he put her at greater risk by running instead of helping, and that is why he must go to prison.”
Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott C. Vachris prosecuted Mr. Dezego’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Detective Brock A. Martin led the investigation.
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