Home Update: Winchester man sought in Frederick County hit-and-run fatality
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Update: Winchester man sought in Frederick County hit-and-run fatality

Chris Graham
Christofer Valeriano-Lanza
Christofer Valeriano-Lanza/Virginia State Police

Virginia State Police has identified an individual involved in the fatal hit-and-run of a bicyclist in Frederick County over the weekend.

Christofer A. Valeriano-Lanza, 20, of Winchester, is wanted on one felony count of duty to report an accident involving injury or death.

VSP is encouraging anyone with information concerning Valeriano-Lanza’s whereabouts and/or details about the crash to contact Virginia State Police Trooper J. Myers at 540-662-3313 or by email at [email protected].

The fatal hit-and-run crash occurred Jan. 11 at 1:41 a.m. on Route 7 (Berryville Pike) at 1 tenth of a mile west Route 991 (Regency Lakes).

A 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer was traveling east on Route 7 when the driver lost control, ran off the left side of the roadway, over corrected, ran off the right side of the roadway, struck a guardrail, and struck a bicyclist. The Mitsubishi then ran off the left side of the roadway, collided with a ditch, and overturned.

The bicyclist was traveling east on Route 7 when it was struck from behind by the Mitsubishi.

The bicyclist, Mark W. Smith, 49, of Winchester, died at the scene as a result of his injuries.

Valeriano-Lanza fled the scene of the crash on foot before law enforcement arrived. VSP is investigating the possibility of there having been two individuals in the Mitsubishi who fled the scene following the crash.

Speed and alcohol are both considered factors in the crash. The crash remains under investigation.

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Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].