West Chester man accused of drunk driving in Route 202 fatal wreck

Prosecutors are pursuing charges against a 49-year-old West Chester, Pennsylvania man linked to a fatal motorcycle accident that was reported in late April in Westtown Township. Authorities say that the man attempted to make a left-hand turn from southbound Route 202 onto Stanton Avenue shortly before 10:30 at night on April 26.

Police say that the man drove his pickup across the northbound lanes as a 24-year-old man was driving north on a Yamaha--the pickup pulled directly into the path of the young rider.

The motorcycle slammed into the pickup. First responders found the young man sprawled in the north bound lanes of Wilmington Pike severely injured. The motorcycle accident victim was rushed to Paoli Hospital, where the 24-year-old succumbed to his injures two days later.

Authorities say that the 49-year-old pickup driver who allegedly pulled into the path of the bike has a history of drunk driving offenses. On the night of the motorcycle wreck police drew a blood sample from the pickup truck driver--toxicology tests measured 0.283 percent blood alcohol concentration in that sample, according to authorities.

The man has been ordered to stand trial in criminal court for his negligence. He is accused of second degree homicide, manslaughter, DUI and multiple other offenses.

Drunk driving accidents claim far too many lives on Pennsylvania roads. Each drunk driving wreck can involve heartbreaking stories in the media. When a drunk driver kills a person, families are often devastated over the loss of a loved one from an accident that should be preventable.