BECKLEY, WV (WOAY) – Raleigh County Sheriff Frank Priddy is thankful for the indictment of a Fairdale woman for the April 2025 Coalfields Expressway wreck in Sophia that claimed the life of 24-year-old Baylea Bower.
Destany Lester is facing four counts, including driving impaired causing death, possession of a controlled substance, underage consumption, and possession of alcoholic beverages underage, according to a September 12 court filing.
At 12:45 am on April 20, nineteen-year-old Lester hit the guardrail, crossing into the northbound lanes, with a fatal head-on blow to Bower’s Chevrolet Tahoe.
“Our hearts go out to the family. People sometimes don’t understand that there’s a process we have to go through, and we follow the direction of the prosecutor’s office,” the sheriff said. “We want to make sure that it’s done proper and correct and give them a good case.”
Priddy calls it a tragedy and says there’s not a lot one can do as far as keeping tabs on your kids.
“Other than trying to teach them and guide them and lead by example,” said the sheriff.
“But it’s a shame. We give the prosecutor whatever they need for their investigation to go ahead and prosecute the case. Then we’ll be a witness in that case.”
