Orchid resident Elizabeth Jewkes-Danielsen, 63, charged with DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide in the death of John’s Island resident Christopher Ingraham three years ago, is scheduled to finally go on trial this coming Monday in Judge Robert Meadows’ courtroom.
Jewkes-Danielsen is accused of racing her husband in separate cars up Highway A1A through the Town of Indian River Shores in May 2022 en route home to their condominium in the Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club after leaving the Polo Grill where they had dinner and drinks.
Paul Danielsen made it home, but Jewkes-Danielsen crashed into the Ingrahams’ vehicle on A1A in front of Bermuda Bay. Witnesses say she had been using the center turn lane to pass slower traffic.
Ingraham, 89, died of his crash injuries and his wife Frances, now 93, was seriously injured.
Jewkes-Danielsen’s blood taken at HCA Florida Lawnwood Medical Center tested out at more than three times the legal limit for alcohol. Since her arrest in January 2023, Jewkes-Danielsen has awaited trial on bond at her Orchid condo. While on pre-trial release, Jewkes-Danielsen has had to submit to weekly alcohol and drug testing and wear a GPS monitoring device.
Criminal defense attorney Andrew Metcalf, who represents Jewkes-Danielsen, said cases like a DUI manslaughter or vehicular homicide are “complex cases with complex issues” and require years of work by investigators and technical experts to examine every aspect of the state’s case and provide the best defense possible in accordance with the defendant’s Constitutional rights.
“I don’t apologize for taking a long time on cases where peoples’ lives are greatly impacted,” Metcalf said.
If the criminal case against Jewkes-Danielsen is not resolved with a plea agreement before the jury trial, it could potentially bring dozens of John’s Island residents, plus numerous Indian River Shores Public Safety officers who worked on the case, to the witness stand.
“The judge has set aside an entire week, as it’s a fairly complex case,” Assistant State Attorney Bill Long said.
Jewkes-Danielsen and her husband, who does not face criminal charges, are also being sued in civil court for negligence and wrongful death by Ingraham’s widow and by his estate, with local attorney Dane Ullian representing the victims’ family.
