MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A 20-year-old Hatfield man has been charged with speeding and being under the influence of marijuana when he caused a crash that killed a 72-year-old woman in Franconia Township.
The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 14, on Minninger Road, when Paula Wilson was pulling out of a driveway with her 7-year-old granddaughter in the backseat of her Ford Explorer. Police say Logan Dierkes, 20, driving a Dodge Charger, slammed into the SUV.
Wilson was killed. Her granddaughter suffered minor injuries but survived.
Police and accident reconstruction specialists estimate Dierkes was driving at 85 - 95 mph where the posted speed limit is 35 mph. An expert quoted in the criminal complaint said Dierkes had marijuana in his system at levels consistent with someone who ingested the drug within three hours of the crash.
Dierkes is charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, reckless endangerment and related offenses.