Hatfield man to face trial in fatal DUI crash that killed woman
Detectives allege that driver, 20 was speeding, had marijuana in his system
FRANCONIA — A Hatfield Township man must answer to charges in Montgomery County Court that he was speeding and driving under the influence of marijuana when he struck a sport utility vehicle that was exiting a residential driveway in Franconia Township, killing a Bethlehem woman who was driving the SUV.
Logan Parker Dierkes, 20, of the 1200 block of Alexander Drive was ordered to stand trial, after a preliminary hearingbeforeDistrictCourt Judge Albert J. Augustine, on charges of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of a controlled substance, homicide by vehicle, DUI, recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving and speeding in connection with the 5:43 p.m. Sept. 14 crash that killed Paula Ann Wilson, 72.
Dierkes remains free on $99,000 bail while awaiting trial.
A conviction of homicide by vehicle while DUI can carry a mandatory sentence of three years in prison.
After the crash, Wilson was transported to Grand View Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 6:27 p.m. An autopsy determined Wilson died from blunt injuries.
Wilson’s 7-year-old granddaughter, who was found buckled in the rear passenger seat of the SUV, was transported to the same hospital where she was treated for minor injuries, according to authorities
Police determined that Dierkes was traveling westbound on Mininger Road at a speed of at least 84 mph in a 35-mph zone. Wilson was pulling out of the driveway of 529 Mininger Road, attempting to turn left onto eastbound Mininger Road, when Dierkes crested a small hill.
“Due to Dierkes’ high speed, he was unable to stop or take any other action, and he struck the driver’s side door and fender area of the [SUV],” county Detective David Schanes and Franconia Detective Eric Frary wrote in the criminal complaint. “The force of the impact caused … the [SUV] to roll onto its driver’s side.”
The SUV righted itself back onto its wheels and came to rest 105 feet west of the initial crash location, authorities alleged.
Surveillance video from a residence just east of the crash location was analyzed using two methods to determine speed. One measure found that Dierkes’ vehicle was traveling 84-97 mph just before the crash, while another analysis placed the vehicle’s speed at 90-97 mph.
Testing on Dierkes’ blood found metabolites of marijuana in his system. A toxicology expert advised that with the amount of THC or marijuana in Dierkes’ system it appeared that he had potentially used marijuana within three hours of the blood withdrawal.