Driver Sentenced In Deadly Falls Hit And Run

FALLS TOWNSHIP, PA — A Falls man who says he was using heroin when he struck and killed a 70-year-old with his car will spend up to the next three decades in prison.

Anthony M. Woods, 42, of Nottingham Court, pleaded guilty Tuesday to third-degree homicide and other charges in the Aug. 21 death of Emmanuael "Manny" Weintraub. Judge Brian T. McGuffin sentenced Woods to 10-30 years in state prison.

The crash happened on the 8800 block of New Falls Road, where Weintraub was crossing the street in a crosswalk. Video captured by a security camera showed Woods, in his 2007 Nissan Altima, striking Weintraub, then not stopping.

Prosecutors say that, in an interview with Falls Township Police a week afterward, Woods said he was driving home from buying and using heroin in Philadelphia at the time of the crash. He crossed a double-yellow line to pass a slow moving vehicle and struck Weintraub.

After seeing news reports of the crash, prosecutors say, Woods had repairs made to his car to avoid attention. On Tuesday, Woods also pleaded guilty to DUI charges from a traffic stop earlier in August.

"It was important to the commonwealth and to Manny’s family that Woods be convicted of third-degree murder," said Deputy District Attorney Robert D. James. "Woods' actions before, during and after the incident demanded a conviction for the most serious offense he could be charged with under the law, and he deserves to serve every day of that 30 years behind bars for the damage he caused to his victim, the victim’s family and the community."

Photo courtesy Bucks County District Attorney's office