Bond lowered for suspect in fatal crash

Published 12:40 pm Friday, December 2, 2016

An elderly man charged with causing a deadly crash will be allowed to go on home incarceration, provided he can post a $10,000 bond.

James Pelfrey, 84, of 402 Tremont Lane, is facing two counts of second-degree manslaughter and one count of first-degree assault from a June 7 crash on Bypass Road in Winchester.

Pelfrey was indicted in October and jailed on a $20,00 cash bond. Thursday, Clark Circuit Judge Jean Chenault Logue amended it to $10,000 cash with several conditions including home incarceration, that he not have a vehicle at the house and never drive.

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Pelfrey’s attorney Mitchell Berryman said Pelfrey has already surrendered his driver’s license and does not have a vehicle any more. Pelfrey said he had a relative who would bring food to his home.

The crash happened on the night of June 7 near the intersection of Bypass Road and Colby Road. Pelfrey said a vehicle following him blinded him with its headlights and he did not see other vehicles stopped for the traffic light.

Police said Pelfrey’s Cadillac slammed into a Ford Aspire, which was slowing or stopped at the intersection. Two of its occupants, 62-year-old Sarah C. Helfrich and 35-year-old Juanetta Mitchell, were killed in the collision. A third woman, 38-year-old Sadalia Mitchell, was injured. All three women are from Richmond.

Police said there was no evidence Pelfrey slowed prior to the impact. The driver of a third vehicle was also injured.

Contact Fred at fred.petke@winchestersun.com.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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