Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 14, 1995 TAG: 9501160037
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Short
The Radford man hasn't been seen since.
Whited, 38, of Willow Woods Apartments, wrecked the car he was driving about 1:30 a.m. Dec. 31 on Prices Fork Road west of Coal Hollow Road, said Dan Haga, chief deputy of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.
A man told the investigating deputy, Sgt. Billy Wiatt, that he saw the driver walking in the middle of the road toward Radford. He said the driver ran away when he called out to him.
A brief search of the area the night of the wreck turned up nothing.
Montgomery County and Radford officers stepped up the search for Whited on Thursday after his parents filed a missing-person report. A state police helicopter combed the area Friday.
Whited has not returned to his Radford University classes, his mail has not been picked up, his car remains at the Blacksburg service station where it was towed after the wreck, and he has not been back to his apartment, Haga said.
Haga said a thorough ground search will be conducted today..
Authorities aren't sure if Whited wandered off disoriented and injured or simply decided to disappear.
``We know he was drinking somewhat,'' Haga said, because the apartment manager had called Radford police when Whited drove off from Willow Woods earlier that night.
Whited is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, 165 pounds, with blue eyes, brown hair and balding. He walks with a limp.
Anyone with information may call the Sheriff's Office at (703)382-2951.
by CNB