Del. Matt Fariss, a Republican lawmaker in Virginia has been charged with two felonies for a hit-and-run that left a woman with minor injuries, according to Cardinal News.
The woman told police that she was in the passenger seat of Fariss’ 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe on Thursday when he passed a car at an “excessive speed” then blew out a tire.
She said Farris pulled into a church parking lot, where he became “irate” while talking on the phone with his son about a car jack.
The woman said she got out of the car and started walking to a cousin’s home nearby as Fariss became increasingly aggressive. He then began driving and “screaming” at her to get back into the vehicle. When she refused, Fariss made a 90-degree turn and hit her with his SUV.
The woman said he then got out of the vehicle and yelled at her, “[You] should have gotten into the goddamn car.”
According to the woman, a man witnessed the confrontation and “came down his driveway yelling.” At that point Fariss fled the scene. It’s not clear what the lawmaker’s relationship to the woman is.
Fariss turned himself in on Friday and faces two felony charges — malicious wounding and failing to stop after an accident— plus a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving.
In a statement on Tuesday, Fariss called the charges against him “false” and he “look forward to clearing them in a court of law.”
The incident was not Fariss’ first hit-and-run. In 2016 he pleaded guilty to damaged fencing, a highway sign and a mailbox. No one was hurt in that incident.
