ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 21, 1996 TAG: 9602210032
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: IN THE REGION
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS AND STAFF REPORTS
John I. Thomas became the second Virginia Tech football player this school year to be charged with felony hit-and-run when he was arrested in Blacksburg in connection with an accident that injured the other driver.
Sarah M. Stollhans, 22, of Blacksburg, was stopped at a traffic light near the campus Sunday when Thomas, 20, bumped his car into the back of her four-door sedan, according to Blacksburg police.
Thomas gave Ms. Stollhans his vehicle registration information and then left the scene, police said. When an officer arrived, Ms. Stollhans was complaining of neck pain. Police did not have any more information about her condition and she could not be reached Monday night for comment.
There was no damage to Ms. Stollhans' vehicle and an estimated $50 damage to Thomas' vehicle, police said in a statement that did not include the time of the accident.
Thomas was arrested later Sunday and charged with failing to stop at the scene of an accident that resulted in injury. He was released from the Montgomery County jail on a $5,000 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned today.
If convicted of the felony, the maximum penalty Thomas could receive is five years in prison and a $2,500 fine.
Thomas, a punter, is a redshirt freshman from Herndon.
On Nov.27, Hokie teammate James Crawford was charged with felony hit-and-run and fraud after he allegedly sideswiped an employee who was standing at the gate of a service station where the safety's car had been towed. Crawford, who had outstanding parking tickets, was accused of removing his car without paying the towing and impounding bills. He has not yet been tried.
In other news:
* VMI assistant football coach Tom Throckmorton has accepted a position on the staff at Boston College, where he will be reunited with one-time colleague Phil Elmassian.
Throckmorton, a 1965 graduate of Randolph-Macon, will coach the linebackers at BC. Throckmorton previously had coached at North Carolina State, Randolph-Macon, Richmond, East Carolina, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and for five years in two different stints at VMI.
Throckmorton also was a scout for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 1988 season.
While he was at Virginia Tech from 1985-86, Throckmorton coached with Elmassian, who left the University of Washington after the 1995 season to become the defensive coordinator at Boston College.
* Patrick County took the Piedmont District wrestling championship in Ridgeway on Monday with 2041/2 points. Tunstall was second with 194 points and Magna Vista third with 186.
Magna Vista led Timesland teams in individual titles with three. Winning for the Warriors were Darin Dickson (112 pounds), J.J. Epperly (119) and Waylon Ryder (130).
Bassett's Wayne Milam (103), Jeff Shively (145) and John Miller (275) joined Laurel Park's Corey Lanier (140) and Anthony Lanier (160) as other winners.
* Staunton River and Liberty made strong showings at the Seminole District wrestling tournament in Charlottesville on Monday.
Brookville took first place with 199.5 points. Staunton River finished second with 147 points and Liberty placed third with 127.5. Staunton River's Josh Ridgeway received Wrestler of the Year honors for the district. Ridgeway (103) and Danny Thomas (135) won their weight classes for Staunton River and Aaron Noe won at 171 pounds for Liberty.
* William Byrd defeated Salem in three games in the finals of the Blue Ridge District volleyball tournament at Lord Botetourt High School on Tuesday.
The Terriers, seeded first, reached the finals by defeating the hosts in straight sets 15-10, 18-16. The Spartans, seeded second, made the title match by defeating Alleghany 15-5, 15-2. Both teams will advance to the Region III playoffs later this week.
LENGTH: Medium: 76 linesby CNB