Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office investigators are searching the cell phones of a Leesburg man believed to have driven into a Lansdowne mother and her 5-month-old boy Aug. 31, according to an affidavit in support of the search warrant.
The affidavit filed in Loudoun County Circuit Court identifies John Miller, 45, as the driver of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee that hit the mother and child, killing the boy and severely injuring the woman. Charges have not yet been filed against Miller, but filing documents indicate that the search warrant is issued in relation to “reckless driving generally.”
The affidavit states that a witness told investigators that Miller was looking at his cell phone and made a “last second” left turn from Coton Manor Drive onto Riverside Parkway just after 8 a.m. that day.
“The juvenile witness stated that prior to the collision he had observed the male driver of the Jeep through the rear window holding a phone in his left hand as if he was watching or reading something,” the affidavit reads.
The witness also said the Jeep was tailgating the car in front of him. “The juvenile witness stated that it appeared as if the Jeep was trying to beat her as if to go in front of the female with the stroller, and that the Jeep sped up fast,” the document reads.
The witness also said the mother and baby, in the stroller, were walking in the designated crosswalk and the white walk symbol was illuminated.
The affidavit states that at the scene shortly after the incident, Miller’s attorney Michael P. Kelly informed law enforcement that his client would not be providing a statement to investigators at that time.
Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kraig Troxell said it could be another several days before a decision is made concerning charges in the case. “The factors that led to the cause of the mother and child being struck remain under investigation. The results of the investigation will be reviewed with the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney to determine any possible charges,” he said.
Troxell said the mother was released from the hospital Friday.
A GoFundMe page has been created to raise money for the family of the baby boy. As of Tuesday afternoon, close to $88,000 had been raised. Visit the page here.