Head-on Auto Accident in Pennsylvania Kills 1, Sends Another to Jail
Delco woman faces DUI-related homicide charges
Roisin O'Neill, 22, of Newtown Square, had a blood alcohol content of .197 percent and was under the influence of marijuana when she drove up the off-ramp onto Interstate 476 on Sept. 19, traveling more than three miles in the wrong direction before striking a car operated by Patricia Waggoner, 63 in a fatal Pennsylvania head-on auto accident.
According to a Philadelphia Inquirer report, Waggoner, who was headed to Media to visit family, was pronounced dead at the crash site at 2:30 a.m. Sept. 19. She died of cerebral and chest trauma.
O'Neill’s injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said O'Neill was "falling down drunk" when she sped down the Blue Route in the wrong direction flashing her headlights at oncoming drivers. According to the article, Roisin O'Neill met friends just after 10 p.m. on Sept. 18 at Brownies 23 East in Ardmore, PA. She later admitted to police that she had two whiskey drinks before she arrived at the bar and a "beer or two" after she arrived.
Police said they interviewed five drivers who swerved to get out of her way as she drove, flashing her high beams, at high speed in the wrong direction for more than three miles. Waggoner also attempted to get out of the way of the speeding Ford Escape. She swerved her car right just as O'Neill swerved left and head-on into the smaller car resulting in a deadly Pennsylvania SUV accident.
Defense Attorney Vincent P. DiFabio said the case would most likely result in a guilty plea.
Roisin O'Neill is additionally charged with homicide by vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance, reckless driving, driving the vehicle at unsafe speeds and failure to obey a traffic control device, one-way roadway and rotary traffic islands.
The Inquirer noted that Waggoner was on her way to Philadelphia to have lunch with her granddaughter for her special Grandparent's Day at school, and to celebrate another granddaughter’s 6th birthday.
O’Neill should be held both criminally and civilly responsible for the accident and the death of Patricia Waggoner. The family of Patricia Waggoner deserves to be rightfully compensated for their tremendous loss. In Pennsylvania, a law prohibits a bar from serving alcohol a drunk patron. They would be well advised to contact a Pennsylvania auto accident attorney who will file a wrongful death claim against not only the driver but the bars who serve the drunk driver to fight for their rights.
According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report, there were 500 fatalities in Pennsylvania in 2007 caused by alcohol-related traffic accidents.
If you or a loved one has suffered severe physical injuries by a drunk driver in an automobile accident in Pennsylvania, please call the Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys at Cherry, Fieger and Marciano, LLP for a free case evaluation.
