Man Charged In Fatal Hit-And-Run Of Bensalem Teen

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —A Trevose man has been charged in the fatal hit-and-run of a 14-year-old boy as he crossed Street Road last July.

Following a six-month investigation, the Bensalem Township Police Department Tuesday announced the arrest of James Shulski, 35, of Helen Street in Trevose.

Shulski surrendered to Bensalem Police on Tuesday. He was charged with Accidents Involving Death or Person Injury (Felony 2) and Duty to Give Information and Render Aid (Summary).

District Justice Joseph Falcone arraigned him, and bail was set at 10 percent of $100,000. Family members immediately posted the bail and Shulski was released.

On July 6, at 10:15 p.m., Bensalem Police responded to a struck pedestrian on Street Road near the Route 1 overpass.

Upon arrival, they found a 14-year-old boy in the center travel lane of the roadway with severe injuries who was unresponsive.

Life-saving measures were performed, but the boy died from the injuries he sustained, police said.

Police found that the striking vehicle stopped briefly; the driver got out but returned to his car and fled.

Investigators found surveillance video showing a gray Honda Accord traveling westbound on Street Road just before the crash.

After striking the child, the vehicle fled the scene westbound into Lower Southampton Township, police said.

The vehicle was then tracked backward utilizing surveillance cameras.

Before the crash, the registration of the striking vehicle was captured by a license plate reader.

Investigators went to the registered address of the vehicle owner and found a gray Honda Accord parked at the residence. The Honda had damage consistent with striking a pedestrian. Police spoke with the vehicle owner and then attempted to speak with Shulski, who lived at the address but refused to answer any questions.

The Honda Accord was seized under a search warrant, inspected, and evidence collected, police said.

Investigators also obtained a search warrant for Shulski's cell phone records. A detailed review of those records placed Shulski’s cellular phone near the crash scene at the time of the incident.

A search warrant for his DNA was served, and the DNA recovered from the vehicle's steering wheel matched the known DNA sample of Shulski, police said.