BUCKS COUNTY (KYW Newsradio) — A repeat DUI offender in Bucks County who killed a Connecticut couple in Bristol Township last year while speeding and high on methamphetamine will spend decades in prison.
John Wadlinger, 32, is sentenced to just shy of 27 years to almost 54 years in state prison for the Feb. 24 crash on Veteran’s Highway at Ford Road in Bristol Township.
Wadlinger pleaded guilty to several charges in November, admitting he was high on methamphetamine and speeding when his Ford Explorer hit a car so hard it sheared off the passenger side, killed Rebecca and Richard Whiddon — 33 and 37 — and injured two others.
Prosecutor Christine Sassane says Wadlinger had three prior DUIs, was driving with a suspended license, and was on parole.
“I hope that this sends a message that, you know, we should take DUIs in and of themselves more seriously,” Sassane said.
After the deadly crash, Wadlinger jumped from his SUV, ran to a nearby property and stole a dump truck. He flipped the dump truck, kicked out the windshield, and again tried to run but was taken into custody.
“It just showed his true disregard for anyone other than himself, his callousness, and, really, his just desire to escape responsibility,” Sassane said.
A Bristol Township police officer said at sentencing that it was the worst crash scene he and several other veteran police officers had ever worked.
Wadlinger apologized, saying it was an accident, not intentional, and doesn’t represent who he is.