NORFOLK, Va. — A Norfolk man was sentenced to more than a year on Friday for a hit-and-run that left a woman severely injured, the city Commonwealth's Attorney's Office said.
The sentencing comes after Ronald Dezego pleaded guilty on February 6 to felony hit and run resulting in an injury.
On Jan. 24, 2022, 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 woman's 2010 Ford Focus.
The woman called out for help but Dezego ran off. The woman had severe injuries to her left leg and hip, her hands and face, according to the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. She had to be extracted from her car by Norfolk Fire-Rescue responders.
The next day, Dezego called Norfolk police and pretended that his car was stolen to make up a fake alibi. Investigators impounded his car and collected DNA evidence from the deployed airbag. Police confirmed that Dezego was the driver. He was arrested.
“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,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi wrote in a news release. “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.”
