Arrest made in hit-and-run

Authorities have made an arrest in a hit-and-run incident that took the life of a Pennington man on December 22.

According to investigators with the Alabama State Troopers, Jimmy James Gipp, Jr., 57, of Ward, was arrested on Tuesday, January 2, and charged with leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death or injury.

Robert Ellis Thompson, 58, of Pennington was critically injured and later died following the hit-and-run that occurred at just before midnight on December 22, along County Road 33, about two miles north of Pennington. The vehicle allegedly struck Thompson, who was on foot, and the driver then fled the scene, according to reports at that time.

The arrest came after investigations led by Alabama State Troopers, along with the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Department. The investigations took place between the time of the accident and December 27, leading to the arrest on Tuesday.

No other information has been released by investigators.