iradiophilly | News - Truck Driver Asleep in Delaware Crash; DUI Checkpoints This Weekend; No Bail for Building Collapse

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Truck Driver Asleep in Delaware Crash; DUI Checkpoints This Weekend; No Bail for Building Collapse

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 06/27/14 8:43 pm | updated: 06/27/14 8:43 pm

Delaware State Police say that the driver of a UPS tractor-trailer that flipped onto it's side, blocking traffic for hours on I-95 in Delaware Friday morning, had fallen asleep at the wheel. It happened at 4:08 a.m. in the southbound lanes north of Basin Road exit (Exit 5B) as the 16-wheel truck was merging from I-295 to I-95. The truck drifted off the road, hit the guard rail, flipped onto it's side and slid to a stop blocking all lanes of the highway. A 2010 Mercedes was unable to avoid the wrecked truck and slammed into the undercarriage. The driver was taken to the hospital with no life threatening injuries. The truck driver, 45-year-old Phillip Bates of York, PA, was issued a traffic citation for Inattentive Driving. It took nearly an hour to free him from the wreckage, but he suffered non-life threatening injuries as well. Police still continue to investigate.

Police forces throughout the area will be stepping up DUI enforcement ahead of next week's 4th of July holiday weekend. DUI checkpoints will be set up throughout the region this weekend, starting tonight, in an effort to both nab impaired drivers and educate the public on the dangers of drinking and driving. Most checkpoints are set up along routes that see the most DUI crashes and arrests. Municipalities in Bucks and Montgomery counties will also be working with the state police. Impairment statistics also show that alcohol isn't always the culprit. 35 percent of DUI drivers are under the influence of some type of drug.

Bail has been denied for a defendant in the fatal collapse of a Center City building during demolition last year. Six people were killed when a wall of a building under demolition collapsed onto the roof of the neighboring Salvation Army thrift store. Defense attorney William Hobson argued that defendant Griffin Campbell, who was the contractor on site that day, was of no danger to the community and posed no flight risk. Prosecutor Jennifer Selber argued that Campbell, and his co-defendant Sean Benschop the crane operator, are charged with six counts of third-degree murder each. If they are convicted of more that one of them they get an automatic life sentence. Pennsylvania law states that if you face a life sentence then you cannot get bail. The judge agreed with the prosecutor and Hobson will now have to prepare for trial.

Tonight,
Mostly Clear, Temperatures in the mid/upper 70's this evening in Center City.

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