High Blood Alcohol Level Behind Stockertown Crash, Police Say

Written by Jack Tobias

A Bangor man whose blood-alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit drove with three children in the car, crossed the center line and crashed into a tractor trailer in Stockertown last month, court records say.

The records also say that the car’s driver, Bruce Thomas O’Donnell, 33, had a suspended driver’s license and drove away from the crash but didn’t get far because his car broke down.

No one apparently was hurt in the June 4 incident on the 100 block of Main Street. The children in O’Donnell’s car were ages 12, 11 and 8. The car suffered “severe disabling damage” while the tractor trailer only had minor damage, the records say.

O’Donnell’s blood-alcohol level was 0.28 percent – more than three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent. The records say O’Donnell almost fell over and was having problems standing when police asked him to walk and turn around.

He told police that before the crash, he had been drinking beer at a friend’s birthday party.

A criminal complaint filed by Stockertown Officer Amal Brown also says:

--Brown noticed a disabled vehicle that turned out to be O’Donnell’s car when he headed to the crash scene. The crash was on the 100 block of Main Street and the car was two blocks north at the Valero gas station at 307 Main St.

--Brown first talked to the tractor trailer driver, who said he was southbound around 10pm when the blue 1997 Chevrolet Lumina four-door, heading north, crossed the center line and hit a portion of the trailer, causing minor damage.

--The driver said the car drove away still heading north. But witnesses said the car involved in the crash was the disabled vehicle at the Valero station.

--Two other officers called to the crash talked to O’Donnell. One of the officers “immediately” detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from O’Donnell, who said it was the tractor trailer that crossed the center line.

--Another of the officers said O’Donnell was displaying “resting nystagmus,” which means his eyes were moving around while he looked straight ahead. It was when he was with the officers that O’Donnell almost fell over and was having problems standing.

O’Donnell, of 653 Market St. (Route 512) in Bangor, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence, three counts of endangering the welfare of children, and one count each of immediate notice of accident to police, careless driving and driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked.

He was arraigned Saturday afternoon by on-duty District Judge Jackie Taschner of Palmer Township and released on $10,000 unsecured bail.