Deputy Attorneys General Kathleen Dickerson and Kevin Smith secured a guilty plea from a Smyrna man who hit and killed a woman while driving under the influence.
In July 2018, Gerald Medkeff, while already intoxicated, tried to buy crack cocaine from a group of people in the 400 block of New Castle Avenue in Dover.
An argument began when the group accused Medkeff of being a police officer. As Medkeff tried to leave in his vehicle, he struck and killed a woman standing nearby.
Medkeff pleaded guilty to Vehicular Homicide Second Degree and Driving Under the Influence, which was his third DUI.
A Superior Court judge will sentence Medkeff in June.
The chief investigative officer was Corporal Derrick Mast of the Dover Police Department. DOJ social worker Lorraine Freese and paralegal Sue Balik assisted with the case.
Original Story
A 36-year-old Smyrna man was charged with Vehicular Homicide 2nd Degree following an incident on Wednesday morning, according to Dover Police M/Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer.
Hoffman said at approximately 2:22 AM, Gerald Medkeff was operating a Mazda 3 sedan in the rear alley of New Castle Avenue. Officials indicated that Medkeff was allegedly in the area to purchase drugs but did not say why they were under that impression.
While in the alley, Medkeff attempted to leave the area by placing his vehicle in reverse, striking 40-year-old Moneca Saunders, said Hoffman. After striking Saunders, she became stuck under Medkeff’s vehicle. Medkeff shifted from reverse to forward at least twice more in an effort to leave but was unsuccessful, said Hoffman. Assistance from the Dover Fire Department was needed to free Saunders from under the vehicle. She was later pronounced dead at Kent General Hospital.
Hoffman said that a group, of what he called “disorderly people”, approached Medkeff before he tried to leave. Multiple posts on social media from individuals, who say they know Saunders or are family members, dispute the disorderly claim.
Medkeff was charged with a single count of 2nd Degree Vehicular Homicide. Hoffman said alcohol is believed to be a factor in the incident.
