Authorities allege that 37-year-old Erin Churney, of Ambler, was more than three times over the legal blood alcohol limit when her 2012 Ford Escape we
An Ambler woman has been charged with aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI in connection with a February crash on Morris Road that left one man hospitalized with serious injuries.
First responders were dispatched to the scene near the intersection of Pinecroft Place at 8:45 a.m. on Feb. 1 for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries and rescue. Investigators said a 2012 Ford Escape driven by 37-year-old Erin Churney was traveling westbound on Morris Road when it veered off the roadway, traveled up an embankment, then returned to the road and struck a white pickup truck on the front driver’s side area.
Crews from Wissahickon Fire Company worked to free the driver of the pickup truck, who was then transported via ambulance to Abington Memorial Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. It was later determined that the man’s injuries included a broken femur in two places as well as internal bleeding, according to the charging documents against Churney.
Police at the scene described Churney as smelling of alcohol with slurred speech and poor balance, the report states. She reportedly told investigators “[she] f—ked up” and apologized for the crash at the scene, police said.
Churney would go on to fail a serious of field sobriety tests, and once in custody, she agreed to a blood draw at Suburban Community Hospital for blood-alcohol content testing, police said.
On March 1, the result of the blood test was provided to police, showing Churney had a blood-alcohol content of .285% at the time of testing, according to the criminal complaint. The results also showed the presence of Clonazepam, Xanax and oxycodone, police said.
Court records show charges were filed against Churney on March 21, and she was taken into custody and arraigned on March 28 by District Judge Henry Schireson, who set bail at $2,500 unsecured. Additional charges include multiple misdemeanor counts of DUI, as well as summary charges of driving an unregistered vehicle, careless driving and disregarding traffic lanes.
Churney’s next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on April 7 at 10 a.m. in front of District Judge Suzan Leonard.
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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