Driver arrested, accused of deadly hit-and-run in Lincoln County

North Carolina State Highway Patrol reports a driver is arrested after reportedly driving away from a deadly crash in Lincoln County on Thursday night. The crash happened a few minutes before 9 p.m. on Business 321 near Summerow Road. Troopers said a silver Ford Taurus was driving north when the car crossed the center line and hit a 2003 Mitsubishi Montero head-on. The driver of the Montero lost control and flipped over after driving off the road. The driver of the Mitsubishi, 23-year-old Jacob Michael Bentley, was airlifted to Atrium Health's Carolinas Medical Center where he died from his injuries. Bentley was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the SUV, troopers said. Troopers said the driver of the Ford drove away from the scene before emergency crews arrived. Highway Patrol asked for help finding the car, which had a temporary license plate and was missing its left headlight assembly. On Friday, NCSHP said troopers made an arrest, identifying the suspect as 21-year-old Zachary Joseph Deal of Hickory. He was charged with felony hit and run, failure to report an accident, and failure to render medical assistance. He is being held in the Lincoln County jail under a $10,000 secured bond. MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/cri...