Bedford Co. Judge Dismisses Felony Charges In Crash that Killed Williamsburg Teen

Charges filed against a Delaware man in the 2022 traffic death of a Williamsburg teen were dismissed in Bedford County Court last month.

Jeffery D. Miles, 38, was initially charged with felony counts of homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault by vehicle, along with misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person after a vehicle he was driving was involved in a head-on collision with a vehicle driven by Karisma Bethany Dell, 17, of Williamsburg, on Feb. 26, 2022.

According to Bedford State Police, Miles was driving about 20 miles per hour over the speed limit when he crashed into Dell on Route 220 south of Bedford.

According to police, Miles said he was attempting to pass a slower vehicle but when he got into the other lane, the vehicle increased its speed. Miles told police he saw Dell’s vehicle approaching and not being able to get back into the correct lane, he applied his brakes.

A search warrant indicated Miles was going 78 mph in the seconds before the crash and Dell was going 64 mph. While acknowledging the crash occurred in a legal passing zone, police filed charges against Miles based on the speed of his vehicle.

Miles was arraigned on the charges in March 2020 and sent to the Bedford County Jail before posting bail. He was also charged with summary counts of careless driving with unintentional death, careless driving with serious bodily injury, reckless driving and exceeding the maximum speed limit by 20 mph.

During a motions hearing on Nov. 13 before Bedford County President Judge Travis Livengood, Miles’ defense attorney filed a Writ of Habeas Corpus, saying the evidence in the crash did not support the charges filed.

Livengood agreed, saying the evidence does not support recklessness and gross negligence because Miles slowed down and did not lose control of his vehicle. Livengood’s opinion stated that the decision is “founded upon our solemn duty to interpret and apply the law” and that the decision does not change the tragic loss of life and does not “relieve Miles of liability for the accident.”

While the most serious charges were dismissed, the summary charges were bound over for court.