BERKELEY COUNTY, W.Va. –A Hedgesville man has been arrested in connection to a December 2020 fatal hit-in-run accident in Berkeley County.
Charles Edward Orrison, Sr., 54, faces charges of vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run resulting in death.
According to a press release from the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, on December 21, 2020, around 5:52 p.m. Corporal Anaya of the sheriff’s office had responded to a fatal vehicle crash on Blairton Road. Later, deputies discovered a vehicle that was traveling northbound had lost control, left the roadway, and collided with a residence located at 894 Blairton Road.
When the vehicle crashed, it went into the home and it resulted in the death of Elva Bittori, 76. Despite a thorough investigation over several months, the case went cold.
In the past couple of weeks, Ranson Chief of Police Bobby Miller had contacted Berkeley County Sheriff Robert Blair about newly obtained information related to the incident.
The new information was assigned to Deputy Dennis Jenkins with the Berkeley Country Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigator. Jenkins was able to pursue the new lead and conduct additional investigations. This led them to arrest Orrison.
“Chief Miller’s willingness to share critical information demonstrates how effective law enforcement partnerships can bring long-awaited answers,” Sheriff Blair said. “This arrest does not erase the loss felt by the Bittori family, but we hope it brings them a measure of closure after years of uncertainty.”
Orrison is currently being held at the Eastern Regional Jail with no bond.