A 32-year-old Pennsylvania man has pleaded guilty to causing the crash in that state that claimed the lives of a couple from Connecticut in February, according to the office of the Bucks County District Attorney.
John Thomas Wadlinger Jr., of Bensalem, Pennsylvania entered “an open plea” before Common Pleas Judge C. Theodore Fritsch, Jr. to “20 counts, including two counts each of homicide by vehicle while DUI and homicide by vehicle,” according to the office of the Bucks County District Attorney.
Rebecca Whiddon, 33, and Richard Whiddon, 37, both of Brooklyn, Connecticut, were killed in the crash.
A statement issued by the Bucks County District Attorney’s office said Fritsch ordered a pre-sentence investigation and sentencing would be deferred for 60 days.
“A joint investigation by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, the Bristol Township Police Department, and the Plumstead Township Police Department, found that Wadlinger was under the influence of methamphetamine and amphetamine when he sped through a traffic intersection on Feb. 24 and crashed into a car, killing” the Whiddons, the statement said.
The District Attorney said the couple, passengers in a Nissan Sentra, were westbound on Ford Road and attempting “to make a left turn onto southbound Veteran’s Highway when it was struck by a black Ford Explorer, driven by Wadlinger, traveling east on Ford Road at an excessively high rate of speed.”
“The investigation found Wadlinger was driving at a minimum of 73 mph, more than twice the posted speed limit,” the statement issued by the Bucks County District Attorney’s office said. “The Whiddons were killed at the scene, and the driver and another occupant of the Nissan sustained significant injuries.”
The Pennsylvania authorities said Wadlinger fled the scene on foot, then stole a dump truck and drove off, crashing it and leaving that scene, also on foot, but was taken into custody a short time later.
Wadlinger also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, accidents involving death or injury, accidents involving death or injury while not properly licensed, driving under the influence, fleeing or eluding police, evading arrest or detention, theft by unlawful taking, criminal mischief, possession of an instrument of crime, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, driving on a suspended license, defiant trespassing, reckless driving and driving at unsafe speeds, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s office.
The case was investigated by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, Bristol Township Police Department, and Plumstead Township Police Department, and was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Christine Sassane and Assistant District Attorney Andrew Bukowski.
