As reported directly through a news release written by the Limerick Township District Attorney's office and Philly.com, a woman has been charged with aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, among other related charges, after she had ingested several controlled substances and then drove her car into a man mowing his lawn in Schwenksville.
Per authorities, on November 6, at approximately 12:24 p.m., M.M.R. drove her 2005 Buick Rendezvous from the east side of Laver Road into several fences, and then a lawn, before she came into contact with a man riding a lawnmower.
When M.M.R. struck the lawnmower it caused the man to fly through the air, landing him on her car's hood, before her vehicle came to a final stop in a flowerbed.
M.M.R. then backed her car off the lawn and back onto Laver Road. She stopped her car there and returned to the scene.
Officers located the victim lying in the flowerbed.
Police, who also noted that M.M.R.'s vehicle had not passed the Pennsylvania State safety Inspection since 9/11, noted damages to the windshield and front right side of the car. The victim's mower was struck by the right side of M.M.R.'s vehicle.
It has come to light since the incident that M.M.R may have been on her cellular phone at the time of the impact.
Limerick Detectives obtained cell phone records from AT&T on November 28. Their review showed that M.M.R. had been using her handheld device at the same time of the crash. She was also a single occupant in the car.
Along with the news of the cellular phone use, M.M.R.'s toxicology report results were also made public.
The drug combination found in M.M.R.'s system via a blood test and analyzed by a Forensic Toxicologist included: Nordiazepam, Oxazepam, Clonazepam, Alprazplam, Oxycodone and 7-Amino Clonazepam. The amount of the drugs, per the toxicologist, would "...cause her impaired to and beyond the point of rendering this individual unfit to operate a motor vehicle safely."
A statement, prepared by Risa Vetri Ferman, the Montgomery County District Attorney, and Chief William Albany, with the Limerick Township Police Department, said, "The incident has left the victim in extremely serious medical condition and he remains in a Philadelphia hospital where he is only able to communicate by blinking his eyes."
Ferman said that the incident was "another tragic example of a person turning their car into a weapon by getting behind the wheel after using prescription drugs."
District Judge Walter F. Gadzicki, Jr. set the bail at $25,000 during her arraignment and scheduled the preliminary hearing for December 13. In the interim M.M.R.'s driving privileges have been restricted as a condition of her bail.
Assistant District Attorney Jordan Friter will be prosecuting the case.
If you have been found impaired while driving, due to prescription drugs found in your system, contact a DUI attorney that only works on cases involving DUI, DWI, OUI and OWI. The best defense is a well-prepared one, act today!