Bristol Woman Charged In Deadly DUI Crash

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — A woman from Bristol has been charged with homicide and driving under the influence in a July crash that killed a Penndel man.

Karen Baxter, 58, was charged Tuesday with crimes including homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and exceeding the speed limit by more than 39 m.p.h., according to court documents.

According to Middletown Police, Baxter had a blood-alcohol level of .23 at the time of the crash — more than double the state's legal limit of .08.

The Intelligencer reports that Baxter had been drinking at the Irish Rover Station House, off of South Bellevue Avenue in Penndel on the evening of July 23. Citing a police affidavit, the paper reported that staff at the bar told Baxter they'd no longer serve her due to her level of intoxication and physically tried to stop her from driving when she left the bar.

Police say Baxter was driving on Durham Road when she crossed the double yellow lines and started driving southbound in the northbound lane. Her Toyota Camry was going more than 70 m.p.h. in a 35 m.p.h. zone before it hit a Kia driven by Francis Fischer, 64, of Penndel, the paper reported.

Irish Rover employees called 911 to report Baxter at about the same time the crash happened, according to the report. Baxter and Fischer were taken to St. Mary Medical Center, where Fischer later died from his injuries on Sept. 3.

Baxter is being held on a $100,000 bail, according to court documents.

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