Judge directs Adah man’s homicide by vehicle charges to be listed for trial
A Fayette County judge has determined that the commonwealth has met its burden of proof to hold an Adah man on charges, including homicide by vehicle.
Judge Joseph M. George Jr. filed an order denying the pre-trial motion to dismiss charges in the case lodged against Jonathan Switch, 24.
The order came from a pre-trial hearing on Oct. 13 where George said he will review the transcript from Switch’s preliminary hearing to determine if the commonwealth met its burden of proof to sustain the charges against Switch.
Charges were filed against Switch in October 2015 from an incident a day prior where Switch allegedly fled from police after a traffic stop along Route 119 last October. As he traveled toward Leisenring at speeds around 70 to 80 mph, he swerved around another car that was waiting to turn left, police said.
As the driver, later identified as Bendetta Lynn Miller, made the turn, a state police cruiser involved in the chase struck her vehicle on Bute Road. She sustained fatal injuries.
After the accident, the pursuit was terminated. Switch later told police that he panicked because he was on parole, according to police.
During the preliminary hearing, Switch’s attorney, Jack Connor, argued that prosecutors failed to prove that Switch was criminally responsibility for the injuries and death of Miller.
However, after reviewing the transcripts, George dismissed Connor’s argument and directed to list the case for trial.
Switch’s charges included criminal homicide, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest and vehicle violations including careless driving and reckless driving.
Switch is lodged at the State Correctional Institution at Fayette without bond, serving time on another incident.