A Hatfield Township man has been charged with homicide by vehicle, DUI, and related offenses in connection with the Sept. 14 fatal crash on Mininger Road in Franconia Township.
Logan Dierkes, 20, has been charged with felony counts of homicide by vehicle while DUI and homicide by vehicle, as well as misdemeanor counts of DUI: controlled substance and reckless endangerment, and summary counts of reckless driving and exceeding maximum speed limit by 55 miles per hour. Court records show the charges were filed against Dierkes on Wednesday in district court, and he is currently awaiting arraignment.
Crews were dispatched to the scene near the intersection with Milburn Court on Sept. 14 at 5:43 p.m. for a report of a multi-vehicle crash with injuries and entrapment. Arriving police located two vehicles — a Ford Explorer and a Dodge Charger — with heavy damage in the roadway.
Citing witness accounts, police said the Dodge was traveling westbound on Mininger Road at a high rate of speed when it struck the Ford, which was exiting a residential driveway. The force of the crash caused the Ford to rollover before coming to rest upright on the side of the road, police said.
The driver of the Ford was identified as 72-year-old Paula Ann Wilson, of Bethlehem. Police said Wilson was briefly trapped in the wreckage before being rescued by first responders. She was subsequently transported from the scene via ambulance to Grand View Hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
A 7-year-old passenger inside of the Ford was also transported via ambulance to Grand View Hospital for observation, police said.
A small fire ignited in the Dodge following the crash, however it was quickly extinguished by first responders. The driver of the Dodge, identified as Dierkes, was able to get out of his vehicle on his own and was transported to Grand View Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.
Additional details from the crash were not available at the time of publication, as the affidavit of probable cause is only made available after arraignment. Information can be extracted, however, based off the charges that were filed.
Mininger Road has a maximum speed limit of 35 miles per hour between Cowpath and Elroy roads, and based off the speeding charge, police are alleging Dierkes was traveling at least 90 miles per hour at the time of the crash.
Additionally, based off the homicide by vehicle while DUI and DUI: controlled substance charges, police are alleging that Dierkes was under the influence of a controlled substance at the time of the crash.
Further review of court records shows no prior criminal history for Dierkes in Montgomery or the surrounding counties.
If convicted of homicide by vehicle while DUI, Dierkes would face a minimum of three years and a maximum of 10 years in prison, along with a fine of up to $25,000.
Additional details from the crash, as well as Dierkes bail and booking information, will be published following his arraignment, which has not been scheduled at the time of publication.
The case is being prosecuted by Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Edward McCann Jr., and Dierkes is being represented by William E. Moore Esq. from the Colmar-based Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford law firm.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
See also:
Investigation Continues into Fatal Crash on Mininger Road in Franconia
One Killed, Multiple Injured in Multi-Vehicle Crash in Franconia Thursday Afternoon
Crews on Scene of Multi-Vehicle Crash with Entrapment and Injuries in Franconia
