Man faces murder charges
Posted: Friday, December 23, 2011 6:00 am | Updated: 8:30 am, Fri Dec 23, 2011.
MIDDLETOWN — A man with a history of alcohol-related offenses was jailed Thursday on charges of vehicular murder while DUI for allegedly causing a crash that killed his friend in November.
John O'Brien, 31, of Flint Court in Middletown, was jailed in lieu of $ 150,000 bail by District Judge Daniel Baranoski in Penndel despite objections by attorney Ray McHugh, who argued for $ 50,000 bail.
According to court documents, Middletown Officer Mark McLeod said O'Brien was the driver of the car involved in the Nov. 4 accident that took the life of his passenger, Steven Woulke, no age given, of Southampton.
O'Brien's blood alcohol level was 0.23, nearly three times the legal limit. The car he was driving was traveling about 80 mph, court records show.
Records also show O'Brien allegedly was driving with levels of Clonozepam, a controlled substance, in his blood and was driving without a valid driver's license, which had been revoked as a result of his habitual offender status, including two suspensions for driving under the influence of alcohol in 2005.
O'Brien was driving a white Pontiac Grand Am that went out of control, crossed a double yellow line on westbound Route 213 and collided with a Ford F150 at 11:55 p.m. that night, police said.
O'Brien, who told Baranoski he had attended his mother's funeral Wednesday and knows he has a drinking problem, said he wanted to go into treatment for alcoholism and depression.
Bucks County Deputy District Attorney Blake Jackman said O'Brien has two drunken driving convictions and four alcohol-related convictions since 1997.
O'Brien, an out-of-work plumber, faces up to more than 30 years in prison if convicted of all charges, including murder by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without a license, speeding, overtaking a vehicle on the right and being a habitual offender.
McHugh said his client suffered a severe neck injury. Two people in the truck which O'Brien collided with suffered serious neck and back injuries, records show.
They are Uloaku Amah and Chinenye Kayu, no ages or address given. They were taken to St. Mary Medical Center for treatment.
George Mattar, 215-949-4165;
email: gmattar@phillyBurbs.com;
Twitter: @mattarmuses
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