A Pike County man pleaded guilty recently in a deadly hit-and-run crash which occurred last year.

28-year-old Jerry D. Shields, of Virgie, pleaded guilty recently in Pike Circuit Court to a charge of leaving the scene of an injury accident. The charge was in relation to a May 2017 crash near Virgie that claimed the life of Paul Newsome.

Shields collided with Newsome’s vehicle and then fled the scene. Newsome died several days later from injuries suffered in the crash.

Pike Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Bartley said Shields’ conviction was thanks in large part to video evidence of Shields fleeing on-foot from the crash.

As part of a plea agreement, Bartley said his office recommended a two-and-a-half year sentence for Shields, who has been in custody in Pike County since November. Jerry Shields will be sentenced June 29.