23-year-old charged in high-speed fatal Lancaster County crash

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — A Conoy Township man was charged after allegedly killing a West Donegal Township woman in a high-speed crash in April, then deleted a video showing he was driving 70 miles over the speed limit before the impact. The Lancaster County District Attorney's Office said Charles Henry Mitchell IV, 23, was charged with murder of the third degree, homicide by vehicle, tampering with physical evidence, involuntary manslaughter, and other traffic offenses. The DA's office said Mitchell allegedly crashed into a vehicle near the intersection of Turnpike and Bossler Road in west Donegal Township on April 30. The crash resulted in the death of 55-year-old Elena Murariu. Mitchell told police that he was traveling east on Turnpike Road when Murariu pulled out in front of him, according to the DA's office. However, Mitchell's phone revealed that he recorded a video of himself driving right before the crash. The DA's office said the video showed Mitchell reaching up to 111 miles per hour. The DA's office said Mitchell later deleted the video and that the posted speed limit in the area was 40 mph. Mitchell's airbags were examined after the crash, revealing that he was traveling 107 mph five seconds before the airbags were deployed, the DA's office said. The Judge set Mitchell's bail at $900,000 during his preliminary arraignment on Tuesday. The DA's office said he is currently incarcerated at Lancaster County Prison.