HILLTOWN TOWNSHIP CRIME

Man blames dog for fifth DUI charge after crashing into guardrail, police say

The single-vehicle accident occurred on West Creamery Road in Bucks County.

Hilltown Township Police. Photo by James Short.

The single-vehicle accident occurred on West Creamery Road in Bucks County.

  • Public Safety

A Bensalem man has been charged via summons with his fifth DUI, making it a felony in the eyes of the law, after he crashed into a guardrail on West Creamery Road in Bucks County earlier this month.

William Richmond Walter V, 36, of the 100 block of Annapolis Street, was charged by Hilltown Township Police with summary careless driving as well, per charging documents.

On Oct. 6, at 9:44 p.m., police were called to the intersection with Telegraph Road for a single-vehicle crash, per the affidavit. On arrival to the scene, police found a Jeep with heavy front-end damage, after striking a guardrail, police said.

A man, identified as Walter, police allege, was walking away from the car, and was stopped by police. He told police he was en route to his girlfriend’s house in Silverdale, when his dog jumped on his lap, causing him to “hit the bridge,” police said.

Police detected an odor of alcohol on his breath, glassy eyes and an unsteady gait, per the complaint, and Walter was sweating profusely, despite the temperature being 60 degrees. When asked if he had been drinking, Walter said no, police said. Thus, police advised he would undergo field sobriety testing, at which time he admitted having a drink earlier and taking Adderall, per the complaint.

During an abbreviated field sobriety test, Walter allegedly nearly fell on several occasions. He was asked for a blood test to determine BAC and he refused, police said.

A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 3 at 2:45 p.m. before Magisterial District Judge Regina Armitage.

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.



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Tony Di Domizio

Tony Di Domizio is the Managing Editor of NorthPennNow, PerkValleyNow, and CentralBucksNow, and a staff writer for WissNow. Email him at [email protected]. Tony graduated from Kutztown University and went on to serve as a reporter and editor for various news organizations, including Patch/AOL, The Reporter in Lansdale, Pa., and The Morning Call in Allentown, Pa. He was born and raised in and around Lansdale and attended North Penn High School. Lansdale born. St. Patrick's Day, 1980.