Danial Ranck Miller, 33, of Long Swamp Township, Berks County, waived his preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Raymond S. Sheller on Monday, Feb. 17, according to court records.
Miller is charged with Felony Homicide by Vehicle While DUI and multiple DUI offenses stemming from the crash on Wednesday, Jan. 7, in the 4900 block of Strasburg Road in Salisbury Township, authorities said.
Miller was driving a Dodge Caravan eastbound when he struck the rear of a horse and buggy, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
The buggy’s driver, Mary Ruth Stoltzfus, 65, of Paradise Township, was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. The horse pulling the buggy also died in the crash.
Miller was under the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs at the time of the crash, police explained. Troopers reported smelling alcohol on Miller and observing several indicators of impairment. After admitting to drinking alcohol the night before the collision, Miller refused a portable breath test, declined to consent to a blood draw, refused evaluation by a drug recognition expert, and declined medical attention, investigators said.
Police later obtained a blood sample from Miller after securing a search warrant signed by a judge.
Trooper Kyle Strazdus, who responded to the crash, filed the charges. Investigators also noted Miller showed little emotion upon learning the victim had died.
Court records show Miller remains held at Lancaster County Prison after unable to post $500,000 monetary bail set by the Court of Common Pleas . His formal arraignment is scheduled for Friday, March 13 at 9 a.m. in Lancaster County Court.
Court documents also show Miller has two pending Felony Fail to Register with PSP cases in Lancaster County Court stemming from December 2024 and May 2025 incidents.
Miller previously served as an assistant junior high wrestling coach at Pequea Valley School District. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to charges related to sexually assaulting two teenage girls during a high school wrestling tournament and was sentenced to six to 23 months in jail. As part of that sentence, he is required to register as a sex offender for 25 years.
Stoltzfus was a homemaker and a member of the Old Order Amish Church, according to her obituary published by Furman Funeral Home. Born in Gap, she was the daughter of the late Levi K. and Mary Beiler Zook and the wife of Aaron B. Stoltzfus.
She is survived by her husband, 10 children, 22 grandchildren, her stepmother, and numerous siblings. She was preceded in death by her brother, Raymond Zook, and her granddaughter, Esther Stoltzfus.
Her funeral was held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at the home of Christ and Sadie King on South Kinzer Road in Paradise, with interment in Gap Road Cemetery, the funeral home said.
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