Virginia man arrested in deadly hit and run in Myrtle Beach area. Victim is still unknown

A Virginia man has been arrested in an Horry County hit-and-run accident that left a pedestrian dead in May, according to Lance Cpl. Lena Butler with the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

The pedestrian, who was struck and killed near 9440 North Kings Highway on May 27, is still unidentified. The Horry County Coroner’s Office released Wednesday a computer-generated composite of the pedestrian, as well as a photo of his tattoo, in the hopes that someone will recognize him.

James Samuel Thomas, 47, of Richmond, was arrested June 9 by the South Carolina Highway Patrol on a charge of a hit and run accident that involved death or personal injury. He was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center and was released June 10 on a $10,000 bond.

Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard said in a statement that the pedestrian was not found in any local or federal database. A DNA profile is about five months away from being complete, Willard said.

The man is identified as in his late 40s, white, weighing 170 pounds and is between 5 foot, 9 inches and 5 feet, 11 inches tall, according to Willard. The man has light brown or sandy blonde hair and his mustache and goatee are graying.

Anyone with information on his identification should call the Horry County Coroner’s Office at 843-915-5110.