A Berks County man charged with killing a carriage driver in a DUI crash along a Salisbury Township road will have his case proceed to county court after waiving his preliminary hearing.
Danial Ranck Miller, of Long Swamp Township, waived his preliminary hearing before Judge Raymond Sheller on Feb. 17 that on a single count of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, three counts of driving under the influence and one count of driving under the influence following diversion.
Miller, 33, is accused of being under the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs when he crashed his vehicle into a horse and carriage in the 4900 block of Strasburg Road the afternoon of Jan. 7.
The carriage’s driver, a 65-year-old woman, was pronounced dead at the scene due to injuries sustained in the crash.
After admitting to police to having consumed alcohol the night before the collision Miller refused to conduct a portable breath test, consent to a blood draw, be evaluated by a drug recognition expert or receive medical attention.
Police eventually obtained a blood sample from Miller after a judge approved a search warrant.
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Kyle Strazdus, who responded to the scene filed the charges, noticed the smell of alcohol on Miller, who showed little emotion upon learning that the victim had died. Miller also displayed several indicators of impairment.
Miller remains in Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $500,000 bail.
Assistant District Attorney Kyle Linardo will prosecute the case.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.