A Norristown man is facing multiple felony charges following an accident involving an SUV and a motorcycle at the intersection of Bethlehem Pike and Dekalb Pike on Saturday night.
According to the criminal complaint, Montgomery Township Police were on patrol in the area of the 900 block of Bethlehem at 10:35 p.m. on June 13 when they heard what sounded like a vehicle accident. As police pulled out of the parking lot, they observed an overturned SUV and a motorcycle laying in the intersection of Bethlehem Pike and Dekalb Pike, the report states.
The driver of the SUV, identified as 45-year-old Ernesto Olea, of Norristown, told police that he was traveling north on Bethlehem Pike when he entered the left turn lane to turn onto Dekalb Pike, the report states. Olea told police that he came to a complete stop, waited until he received a solid green signal and began to make a left turn when the motorcycle ran a red light and struck his vehicle, causing it to overturn, the report states.
Police then spoke with two witnesses at the scene, both of which contested Olea’s version of events, the report states. According to the complaint, both witnesses stated that as Olea approached the intersection, he slowed but did not stop as he attempted to make a left turn directly in front of the oncoming motorcycle. The motorcycle, which had the right of way, then collided with the SUV, causing the SUV to overturn, police said.
Olea was uninjured as a result of the crash, but the operator of the motorcycle—a male whose identity is being withheld—sustained severe head trauma and was airlifted from the scene via JeffSTAT to Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia in critical condition. The report adds that the victim’s sister informed police that hospital staff advised that the victim had suffered a skull fracture.
While still on scene, police learned that Olea had a suspended driver’s license, and he reportedly confirmed that he was not supposed to be operating a vehicle, police said. Olea was then taken into custody and charged with felony counts of aggravated assault by vehicle and accidents involving death or injury while not licensed, one misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment and summary counts of driving on a suspended license, driving without a license, careless driving and making an illegal left turn.
Olea was arraigned the following morning by Magisterial District Judge Henry Schireson, who set bail at $10,000 cash. Olea was then remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after failing to post bail, and his next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on June 18 at 10 a.m. in front of Magisterial District Judge Andrea Duffy.
(All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.)
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