Pottstown man sent to prison for fatal drug-fueled crash

NORRISTOWN » A Pottstown man is headed to prison after he admitted that he was driving recklessly while under the influence of fentanyl and traces of marijuana and without a valid license when he caused an August 2021 crash in the borough that claimed the life of a 35-year-old Lower Pottsgrove woman.

Symere Keith Butler, 31, of the 600 block of Chestnut Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court on Wednesday to 7 to 14 years in a state correctional facility after he pleaded guilty to charges of homicide by vehicle, accidents involving death while not properly licensed, driving under the influence of controlled substances, driving without a license and reckless driving in connection with the 10:15 p.m. Aug. 3 crash that claimed the life of Nicole “Nikki” Alyse Benzenhafer.

The sentence was imposed by Judge Wendy Demchick-Alloy as part of a plea agreement.

The sentence was the maximum possible sentence allowable by state law, which was sought by prosecutors, for the charges of homicide by vehicle and accidents involving death while not properly licensed.

“Nicole is never going to be able to see her sisters or her 11-year-old son and they will be living with that every day of their lives due to the egregious nature of his (Butler’s) actions,” said Assistant District Attorney

Lisa Caulfield.

The significant maximum sentence, Caulfield said, should send a message to others in the community about the danger of driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol.

“The message is that you really need to think before you make choices to get behind the wheel of a car and drive in an impaired fashion that results in a horrible tragedy such as the death of this mother and sister and friend,” Caulfield said.

“‘Do better. You need to do better,’” added Caulfield, quoting one of the victim’s friends who spoke during the emotional sentencing hearing. “Everybody who is about to make that decision just needs to do better and not drive while impaired by either alcohol or drugs.”

Butler, who was represented by defense lawyer Wana Saadzoi, expressed remorse for his conduct and apologized to the victim’s relatives during the hearing.

Several of Benzenhafer’s grieving relatives and friends testified about their loss. Demchick-Alloy called the testimony from Benzenhafer’s relatives and friends “impactful.”

“It really was heartbreaking. For the most part, the majority of them focused on the fact that she has a little boy out there who’s never going to get to see his mother again,” Caulfield said.

With the charges, detectives alleged Butler operated his vehicle “with extreme recklessness and carelessness at a speed well in excess of the posted speed limit and while impaired by controlled substances.”

The investigation began about 10:16 p.m. Aug. 3 when a borough police officer, on routine patrol eastbound in the 900 block of High Street, observed a Chevrolet Impala traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed pass the officer’s vehicle in a no passing zone, according to the criminal complaint filed by Pottstown Detective Adrian

Stead.

The officer activated overhead emergency lights in an attempt to stop the Impala, which made a right hand turn into the parking lot of Jack Cassidy’s Irish Pub, according to court papers. Upon entering the parking lot, the officer observed the Impala exit the rear of the parking lot and travel southbound on Keim Street.

Court papers indicate the officer turned off the overhead emergency lights and also proceeded southbound on Keim Street.

A short time later, at 10:18 p.m., a pedestrian flagged down the officer on Queen Street and advised that a crash had just occurred a few blocks west of their location.

Symere Keith Butler