Joseph James Morgan, 25, of Perkasie.
A Perkasie man who plead guilty to three charges stemming from a head-on DUI crash that occurred on County Line Road in Hatfield Township has been sentenced to state prison.
As part of a negotiated plea agreement with prosecutors, 25-year-old Joseph Morgan has been sentenced to one-to-five-years in state prison, followed by one year of probation. In addition to prison and probation, Judge William Carpenter stated that Morgan cannot drive a vehicle for two years, and he must also participate in a state drug treatment program, according to court records.
Morgan entered guilty pleas to a felony charge of aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI and misdemeanor charges of DUI and possession of a controlled substance on Dec. 5, 2019. Additional charges of DUI and careless driving were withdrawn following Morgan’s plea.
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, 2019, for a report of a two-vehicle, head-on crash. The ensuing investigation revealed that a black Subaru Crosstrek—driven by Morgan—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.
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