Waynesboro man charged in fatal Rockingham crash – The Daily Progress

WAYNESBORO A Waynesboro man who police say was driving under the influence of drugs when his car struck and killed a motocyclist earlier this week was charged in connection with the fatal crash Tuesday afternoon in Rockingham County.

Sgt. F. Les Tyler of the Virginia State Police said Michael Jon Anderson, 44, of Waynesboro, was being held at the jail on charges of driving under the influence of drugs and driving while having a suspended license.

Tyler said Anderson was driving a 2003 Mitsubishi Galant Tuesday on Route 601 north of Elkton when he crossed into the westbound lane and struck a 2001 Harley-Davidson motorcycle operated by Christopher Lee Shifflett, 29, of Shenandoah County.

Tyler said Shifflett died at the scene. The crash occurred around 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to the state police sergeant. Anderson was being held without bond, Tyler said.

It's not clear when, or if, Anderson will be charged with involuntary manslaughter or another homicide-related charge. Involuntary manslaughter is often the charge brought in cases such as these.

It's not clear what drugs police believe Anderson had taken, or how it was determined that he was under the influence. While hand-held Breathlyzers can be used at the scene of traffic stops and crashes, there is no such device to measure the amount or type of drugs in one's system. A blood test is the usual method for determining what substances are in a suspect's system, and in what amounts.

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Waynesboro man charged in fatal Rockingham crash - The Daily Progress

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