Man Charged In Fatal Cheltenham Township Crash

CHELTENHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —A 47-year-old Philadelphia man has been charged for his involvement in a fatal crash in September, authorities said.

Cedric Galette, 47, of Philadelphia, was arrested Tuesday for Homicide by Vehicle–DUI, Reckless Driving, and other charges related to the crash that killed 28-year-old Troy Rivera at 10 p.m. on Sept. 18, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Cheltenham Township Police Chief John Slavin said.

Cheltenham Township Police responded to a vehicle crash at North 5th Street and Cheltenham Avenue in the township's Melrose Park section.

They arrived to find two vehicles: a 2007 silver Cadillac CTS, driven by Galette, and a 2022 black Cadillac SUV, driven by Rivera.

Rivera was extricated from his vehicle and transported to Jefferson-Abington Hospital, where he died 10 days later.

Galette was removed from his vehicle by medical personnel and transported to Jefferson
Einstein with serious injuries.

A crash investigation by Cheltenham Township Police and the Montgomery County
Detective Bureau found that Galette was driving his silver Cadillac northbound on 5th Street at
more than 60 mph in an area with a posted speed limit of 30 mph.

The defendant drove with his headlights off through a red light when his vehicle struck Rivera’s black Cadillac SUV, which was traveling westbound on Cheltenham Avenue.

Rivera was legally driving through the intersection during a steady green light.

The impact of the crash pushed Rivera’s vehicle into the traffic light pole and utility pole, causing his death.

The on-scene examination by investigators found no skid marks in the roadway, which indicates that Galette took no evasive action or braking before the crash.

The investigation revealed that Galette’s vehicle registration was suspended, and he had no insurance coverage.

Toxicology testing on Galette’s blood found the presence of Phencyclidine, known more
commonly as PCP.

Inside Galette’s vehicle multiple glass jars filled with a wet, leafy substance
containing suspected Phencyclidine were recovered, authorities said.

Galette was arrested on Oct. 29, on charges of Homicide by Vehicle–DUI, Homicide by Vehicle, Driving Under the Influence, Reckless Driving and charges related to an unregistered vehicle, as well as other summary offenses.

He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Douglas H. Lavenberg, who set bail at $50,000 cash, with a condition of no driving.

A bail review hearing was held on Oct. 30, 2024, before Court of Common Pleas Judge Wendy Rothstein, who declined to change the bail amount.

Galette was unable to post bail and was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m., Nov. 4, before Magisterial District Judge Emmett Madden.