Photo by James Short.
A Hatfield man has been charged with DUI in excess of 0.16% BAC after speeding off the 202 Parkway in a new white Tesla that went airborne and crashed into a treeline near the Pickertown Road bridge underpass in Warrington Township earlier this month.
Bhargav M. Patel, 38, of the 2600 block of Denbeigh Drive, was charged July 8 via summons by Warrington Township Police with misdemeanor DUI, misdemeanor DUI with a BAC of 0.16% or higher, reckless driving, and failure to drive in a single lane, according to charging documents.
By James Short On July 6 at 6:52 p.m., police received a call of a white Tesla speeding southbound on the 202 Parkway from the Bristol Road intersection, according to the affidavit. The 911 caller, police said, was behind the Tesla and updating a dispatcher on the Tesla’s actions on the roadway.
The caller said the vehicle was swerving and almost hit a guardrail, and was afraid it was going to crash, police said.
After passing the Pickertown Road bridge underpass, the Tesla, police said, left the roadway, went up an embankment, and became airborne, finally crashing into trees adjacent to the Parkway.
Police said Patel was driving as fast as 90 mph.
By James Short Bucks County 911 received a message from Patel’s Tesla informing them of the crash’s latitude and longitude, police said.
Warrington Fire, Warrington Police and Warrington Community Ambulance Corps responded to the scene, as did several witnesses to the crash, such as passersby and homeowners, police said.
Police went to the Tesla and found Patel as the sole occupant, police said. He suffered from a laceration to his face and was otherwise ambulatory and lucid, per the complaint.
Police said there was an odor of alcohol on him and he had bloodshot, glassy eyes.
There were open White Claw cans thrown around the inside of the car, police said. Patel told police he had been drinking whiskey prior to the crash, per the affidavit.
By James Short Paramedics secured Patel on a backboard and brought him out of the woods onto a gurney. Police spoke to Patel and noted the strong odor of alcohol on him, police said. He took a pre-arrest breath test, which indicated a positive reading for alcohol, according to the complaint.Police followed the ambulance corps to Grand View Hospital, where Patel refused a blood test, police said.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9 at 9:30 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Stacy Wertman.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
