Shawn Michael Morris, 36, of Virginia Beach, was struck as he was walking down Highway 158 near Zoo Road after he crashed the vehicle he was driving around 5 a.m.

Trooper J.D. Warren Jr. of the state Highway Patrol said investigation by Trooper D.P Efird showed Morris, who has ties to the area, said he swerved to miss a deer and struck a fence post.

Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp said in a statement Morris left the scene and was struck.

Warren said the driver of the vehicle, who was not charged, stayed at the scene and reported Morris was wearing dark clothing in the dimly lit area and was walking with traffic in the roadway.

Tripp said as deputies Phillip Trivette and Justin Matthews investigated, they noticed a large amount of valuables inside the wrecked vehicle and notified investigators.

The investigators and Warren discovered stolen property within the vehicle.

Investigators determined Morris was tied to multiple break-ins throughout Northampton and Warren counties in North Carolina and Brunswick and Mecklenburg counties in Virginia.

Investigators from those agencies responded to assist in continuing the investigation, Tripp said, and after further examination, discovered Morris cashed multiple winning lottery tickets at two businesses in Roanoke Rapids.

Tripp said Morris has multiple breaking and entering charges pending from from the four lake area counties and has pending possession of stolen property and two counts of obtaining property by false pretense charges from the sheriff's office for the lottery tickets. More charges are anticipated as agencies continue to investigate.

Tripp said this evening his office is familiar with Morris due to previous crimes not associated with the recent crime spree. There is no evidence Morris committed any break-ins in the lake area of Halifax County, he said.

Warren cited Morris for being in the roadway illegally and Efird cited him for driving left of center and failing to report a collision.