A special prosecutor from Harrison County will lead the investigation into an accident scene involving the Beverly Volunteer Fire Department chief and two off-duty law enforcement officers, officials said.
The West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute has assigned the investigation to the Harrison County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Philip Morrison, the institute's executive director, told The Inter-Mountain. Circuit Judge Jaymie Godwin Wilfong will have to approve the special prosecutor selection, Morrison added.
Any court proceedings resulting from the investigation will be held in Randolph County, institute officials said.
An assistant Harrison County prosecutor will likely be asked to lead the investigation, but one has not been chosen yet, an official in Harrison Prosecuting Attorney Joseph F. Shaffer's office said this week.
Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Parker filed a motion last week requesting a special prosecutor be appointed. Parker said he wanted to avoid any perception of impropriety during the investigation.
A Randolph County Sheriff's Department deputy and an Elkins Police Department officer are among the Beverly VFD members being investigated. The deputy was suspended with pay Jan. 3 as part of an internal Sheriff's Department investigation.
According to the State Police accident report, on Dec. 17, Beverly VFD Chief Jeffrey D. Pritt, 35, wrecked a truck on Files Creek Road and then left the scene.
Trooper J.J. Cornelius told The Inter-Mountain that "evidence was removed from the scene" prior to his arrival at the accident site and another Beverly VFD member, Cody Daniels, claimed to be the driver of the truck.
