Man Injected Heroin While Driving, Then Crashed Into House: DA

A man who passed out from a heroin overdose while driving on New Year's Eve, crashing into a Levittown home, has been sentenced to state prison. The impact from the December crash threw an 80-year-old man across his living room, causing a serious shoulder injury, authorities said. It also caused the family's dog to escape, and it was subsequently killed by a car.

Edward John O’Brien Jr., 22, on Monday entered an open guilty plea in Bucks County Common Pleas Court to aggravated assault while driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle, driving under the influence and several lesser charges.

According to authorities, on Dec. 31, 2017, O'Brien was driving on Gun Road in Bristol Township when he passed out shortly after 6 p.m. Shortly before that, he had pulled his car over to inject himself with drugs, then drove on, the Bucks County District Attorney's office said.

His car crossed about 50 yards of snow-covered ground, crashing through sliding glass doors into Mary and Albert Albright’s living room, prosecutors said.

The Honda slammed a couch that 76-year-old Mary Albright had just left and struck a lounge chair where Albert Albright sat, authorities said. "We thought we were under attack," Mary Albright said, according to information from the DA's office.

Amid the wreckage and confusion, the Albrights’ dog got out and was killed by a passing vehicle, prosecutors said.

Following his guilty plea, Judge Wallace H. Bateman Jr. sentenced him to one to two years in state prison and four years of concurrent probation. He also ordered O’Brien to pay $2,700 in restitution and a $1,000 fine.
He must continue with addiction treatment throughout, Bateman said, citing O’Brien’s need for rehabilitation and the public’s need for protection.

Image via Bucks DA