Mineral Wells Index
— After local resident David Valtier, 60, was struck and killed by a passing motorist as he rode home from work in July, authorities tracked down the man they believed hit him and left the scene.
Officers used nearby surveillance cameras in an effort to locate the vehicle responsible and ultimately arrested Thomas Ray Johnson, 27, of Mineral Wells.
Johnson was charged with two third-degree felony charges, each carrying a possible prison sentence of 10 years and up to a $10,000 fine.
The first charge, causing an accident involving serious bodily injury or death, related to the collision that killed Valtier. Police said Johnson took his truck to an area body shop for repairs shortly after the incident, resulting in the second charge of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.
A Palo Pinto County grand jury this month indicted Johnson on both charges.
