Guilty Plea To Hit-And-Run Charge Results In Prison Time For VA Man

ARLINGTON, VA — A 45-year-old Falls Church man was sentenced on May 2 to 3 1/2 years in prison in connection to a 2024 hit-and-run crash with in which a motorcyclist was injured, according to court documents.

Around 12:40 p.m., on May 26, 2024, a motorcycle was heading south on I-395 near the Pentagon when it was struck by a Honda van that Virginia State Police said did not remain on the scene. The motorcyclist was hospitalized with serious injuries.

With the help of witness information, the responding trooper was able to identify and locate the van the same day, charging the driver, Fullas Abebe of Falls Church, with failure to stop at the scene of a crash causing injury.

On Sept. 9, 2024, Adebe was indicted on the charge, which was a class 5 felony, according to court documents. If found guilty, Adebe faced a potential sentence of 10 years in prison, according to the Code of Virginia.

The judge, jury or court also had the discretion to order Adebe to be confined in jail for up to 12 months and/or pay a fine of up to $2,500, if he were found guilty, according to the Code of Virginia.

On Oct. 31, 2024, Adebe pleaded guilty to failing to stop at the scene of a crash causing an injury, according to court documents.

The Arlington County Circuit Court judge sentenced Adebe to 10 years in prison, with a suspended sentence of 6 years and 6 months, according to court documents. He also had to serve 5 years of supervised probation once he was released.

Additionally, Adebe was ordered to pay $478 in court costs and his drivers license was suspended for one year, court records say.