Teen who drove into oncoming train charged with murdering his friend

Photo byVirginia State Police

FAUQUIER COUNTY – Virginia State Police have charged Jeremiah A.T. Greenfield,19, of Winchester, with one felony count of 2nd-degree murder: homicide and one felony count of eluding law enforcement in connection with the August 2 crash that claimed the life of an 18-year-old woman.

The incident occurred Wednesday, August 2,, at the intersection of Route 17 (Winchester Road) and Route 712 (Delaplane Grade).

Just before midnight on Tuesday, August 1, a Fauquier County sheriff’s deputy observed a 2015 Honda Accord traveling northbound at speeds close to 100 mph on Route 17 near Hastings Lane. The deputy began pursuit. The Honda had been reported as being stolen out of Winchester.

When the driver of the Honda accelerated to speeds exceeding 115 mph, deputies deemed the chase too dangerous for conditions and other drivers on the road. They slowed as other deputies joined the pursuit near the direction of travel.

At 12:22 a.m. on Wednesday, the Honda came upon traffic stopped at a railroad crossing. The crossing arms were down and caution lights flashed as the cars waited for the approaching train to pass.

Disregarding the traffic, the caution lights and the railroad arms, the Honda crossed the center line, went around the stopped vehicles, and attempted to cross the railroad tracks. The vehicle instantly collided with an eastbound Norfolk Southern train.

A deputy extinguished a fire in the vehicle’s engine bay, and rendered first aid for the driver and two passengers while waiting for requested EMS.

The driver of the Honda, Jeremiah A.T. Greenfield, 19, of Winchester, suffered serious injuries in the crash and was flown to INOVA Fairfax Hospital for treatment. He was wearing a seatbelt.

A passenger in the Honda, Haidan B. Smallwood, 18, of Berryville, suffered life-threatening injuries and was flown to INOVA Fairfax Hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries. She had been wearing a seatbelt.

A second passenger in the Honda, Nakii Russell, 20, of Leesburg, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Winchester Medical Center for treatment. She had been wearing a seatbelt.

The Norfolk Southern train and personnel remained on scene following the accident. No one on the train was injured.

On Friday, Aug. 25, officers from the Winchester Police Department took Greenfield into custody without incident on the 1650 block of S Braddock Street in Winchester.

Greenfield was transported to the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.