Joseph James Morgan, 24, of Perkasie.
A Perkasie man has been charged with felony aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI in connection with a head-on crash along County Line Road that left three people injured in February.
According to the criminal complaint, Hatfield Township Police were dispatched to the intersection of County Line and Trewigtown roads at 12:15 p.m. on Feb. 9 for a report of a two-vehicle, head-on crash. The ensuing investigation revealed that a black Subaru Crosstek—driven by 24-year-old Joseph James Morgan, of Perkasie— was traveling northbound when it crossed over into oncoming traffic and struck a vehicle that was occupied by a female driver, her daughter and granddaughter, the report states. A witness on the scene informed police that Morgan drifted into the oncoming lane at full speed, and did not appear to brake at all, according to the report.
All three victims complained of pain across multiple parts of their bodies, and medical records that were later received by police indicated that the female driver suffered a broken clavicle as a result of the crash, and the granddaughter suffered an internal brain hemorrhage.
Police then met with Morgan at Lansdale Hospital, where he was being treated for hip and chest pain. The report describes Morgan as having pin-point pupils, droopy eyelids and “very obvious puncture marks on the inside of his right elbow.” Upon questioning, Morgan reportedly stated that he had a drug problem, and the last time he had used was several hours earlier. Morgan continued to cooperate with police, directing them to seven baggies of heroin that were stored in his wallet, the report states.
Morgan then consented to a blood test, which came back positive for fentanyl and marijuana.
In addition to the felony charge, Morgan was also charged with misdemeanor counts of DUI – controlled substance, intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered, recklessly endangering another person and careless driving causing serious bodily injury.
Morgan was arraigned on April 4 by Magisterial District Judge Andrea Duffy, who set bail at $10,000 cash. He was then remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after failing to post bail.
His next court appearance is a preliminary hearing in front of Judge Duffy at noon on April 11.
(Editor's note: All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. Should the defendant choose to issue a public statement, or is later found not guilty or has the charges dropped, we will update this article accordingly.)
See also:
Lansdale Man Arrested On Dozens Of Child Pornography Charges
Suspect Arrested In Lansdale Stabbing Incident
Investigations Into Stabbing Incident, Suspicious Death Continue In Lansdale
Man Stabbed In Lansdale, Attacker Still At Large
Hatfield Woman Among Five People Arrested In Connection With Multiple Overdose Deaths
