Indiana Driver Faces Multiple Charges After Fatal Back‑Road Collision

On September 1, a Prince Edward County grand jury handed down an indictment against Phillip Kliment Mitreski, a 21‑year‑old from Indiana. He’s now charged with felony involuntary manslaughter, felony driving while intoxicated‑maiming, and a misdemeanor first‑offense DWI.

The indictment stems from a tragic collision that unfolded on May 9 on Back Hampden Sydney Road. According to Virginia State Police, Mitreski’s Genesis G70 drifted across the centerline and slammed head‑on into a 2015 Chevrolet Impala driven by 35‑year‑old James Anema Jr., who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both Mitreski and his passenger, 22‑year‑old Ryan Mackey of Virginia Beach, were injured in the impact. They were rushed to a local hospital for treatment, though the extent of their injuries has not been fully disclosed.

The court has set a hearing for 9 a.m. on September 22 in the Prince Edward County Circuit Court, where the case will move forward. Until then, the community is left to grapple with the loss of a young life and the legal fallout for the driver.

It’s a sobering reminder that a single moment of poor judgment on the road can have devastating, far‑reaching consequences—for the victims, their families, and the people behind the wheel.