Man admits to DUI crash that killed eldelry man
NORRISTOWN » A former Bucks County man awaits his fate from a judge after he admitted he was speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol and controlled substances at the time of a two-vehicle crash in Montgomery Township that claimed the life of an 85-year-old Lansdale man.
David Edward Campbell, 51, who at the time of his arrest listed an address in the 200 block of East Paletown Road, Richland Township, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to charges of homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by a vehicle and driving under the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs in connection with the 8:25 a.m. May 23, 2017, crash at the intersection of Richardson Road and Shady Lane in Montgomery Township.
Judge Todd D. Eisenberg deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigation report about Campbell, including drug and alcohol evaluations.
Campbell, who indicated in court that he now resides in Hatfield, remains free on bail pending sentencing.
Campbell faces a possible maximum sentence of seven to 14 years in prison on the charges. However, state sentencing guidelines could allow for a lesser sentence.
Assistant District Attorney Laura Bradbury said she will argue for jail time against Campbell.
“It’s a serious offense. One individual is dead and another was seriously injured because of the defendant’s reckless driving and choosing to drive while drugs and alcohol were in his system,” Bradbury said.
By pleading guilty to the charges, Campbell admitted that he caused the death of another person while driving in a reckless or negligent manner.
The crash claimed the life of Robert Sykes Sr., 85, of Lansdale, who was driving a 2014 Toyota Camry that was struck by Campbell’s 2005 Ford van. Sykes’ 86-yearold wife, Mary, was seriously injured in the crash. An autopsy determined Robert Sykes died of multiple injuries sustained in the crash, according to testimony.
Under questioning by defense lawyer William Goldman, Campbell said he is remorseful and decided to plead guilty because the victim’s family needed him to admit responsibility.
According to his obituary, Robert Sykes served as an Episcopalian minister for more than 25 years and also was a registered nurse. Sykes, a father of five and grandfather to 13, also was a volunteer APPRISE counselor at the PEAK Center in Lansdale, according to his obituary.
The investigation determined that Campbell’s van was traveling northbound on Richardson Road and Sykes’ vehicle was stopped at the posted stop sign on Shady Lane intending to turn left onto Richardson Road. As Sykes’ vehicle began to turn left the front of Campbell’s van struck the driver’s side of the Sykes vehicle, according to the criminal complaint filed by Montgomery Township Police Officer David Dunlap and Special Montgomery County Detective Joseph Morrissey.
While at the crash site, investigators detected an odor of alcohol on Campbell’s breath and observed he had slurred speech, glassy eyes and was unable to complete his thoughts and showed signs of impairment.
“Campbell admitted drinking wine several hours prior to the crash,” Dunlap and Morrissey alleged in the arrest affidavit.
Blood tests determined that Campbell had a bloodalcohol content of 0.261 percent, more than three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent. Tests also showed the presence of several controlled substances in Campbell’s system, including Phenobarbital, valium and traces or metabolites of cocaine, according to court papers.
Campbell’s alertness, judgment, perception, coordination and response time were impaired due to the amount of alcohol and drugs in his system, rendering him “unfit to operate a motor vehicle safely,” Dunlap and Morrissey alleged.
The investigation determined there were no mechanical problems with Campbell’s vehicle that may have contributed to the crash.
Investigators alleged Campbell’s vehicle was traveling between 59-and62-mph at the time of the crash. The speed limit on Richardson Road is posted 35 mph, according to court documents.
Detectives alleged that had the Campbell vehicle been traveling at any speed less than 50 mph it would have been able to stop prior to the crash and the Sykes vehicle would have been able to complete the left turn safely.