Victim Identified In Fatal Hit-And-Run Near Nowata; Suspect Arrested

NewsOn6.com

NOWATA, Oklahoma -- The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has identified the victim of a fatal hit-and-run collision near Nowata and arrested the driver it says left the scene.

The incident happened shortly before 7:30 Monday morning a mile-and-a-half east of Highway 169 on State Highway 28.

The OHP said 46-year-old Roy Cheatham of Delaware was driving east on State Highway 28 when he left the road and hit and killed 46-year-old Richard Sullivan, Jr, of Delaware, Oklahoma. 

According to the OHP accident report, Sullivan was walking eastbound in the eastbound shoulder when vehicle departed the roadway to the right and hit him.

The OHP said Cheatham left the scene but was later found at his Delaware home.  He was arrested for leaving the scene of a fatal accident.   The felony carries a penalty of up to ten years in prison.

"These Troopers did an excellent job of following leads and working this investigation to produce a timely arrest," Lt. George Brown, with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, said. "The best way to honor a victim of a tragic crime such as this, is to push an investigation to its limits and find the person or persons responsible so that they may be brought to justice."

Brown said Cheatham could face more charges, pending the approval of the Nowata County District Attorney.

According to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Cheatham has a lengthy criminal record. He has recently spent time in prison for a Tulsa County drug violation.