On June 11th, 2019 at approximately 3:40 p.m., a car crash took place on Route 188 in Unityville. Both drivers were transported to a local hospital with injuries. The at-fault party turned himself into police on Thursday, August 22nd for sentencing. He is a 62-year-old male who already has three previous DUI convictions. In addition to alcohol, he was also found to have marijuana in his system.
According to a trooper affidavit, the events leading up to the crash were numerous. The affidavit states that a driver in a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro first pulled out of an establishment directly in front of an oncoming vehicle. That same driver then proceeded to swerve in and out of lanes, nearly caused a head-on collision with a motorcycle, nearly hit a utility pole. Still not ready to give in, the vehicle then pulled away from the guardrail, crashed into it again damaging a front tire, lost control, and crashed into an oncoming vehicle.
This instance not only led to a new DUI charge for the Defendant, but also aggravated assault by vehicle, DUI controlled substance, reckless endangerment, and six summary offenses including careless driving. In October 2018, the governor of Pennsylvania signed into law new, strict penalties for DUI. Not only will this Defendant face felony charges on the basis of DUI alone, but he will also very likely be facing jail time for the multitude of additional offenses.
Any party who finds themselves charged with DUI in the state of Pennsylvania would be well advised to consult with an attorney. The state carries some of the strictest DUI laws in the country, and combined with additional offenses can lead to substantial jail sentences. Don’t attempt to negotiate these sentences on your own.
