Driver Who Killed Pregnant Bucks County Woman Doesn't Remember Crash, Prosecutors Say

The driver who struck and killed a pregnant Bucks County native earlier this month in New Jersey says he doesn't remember the crash and admitted that he was a heroin user, prosecutors say.

Anthony V. Casale, Jr., 25, of Belleville, N.J. has been charged with first-degree death by auto and DUI in connection with the death of 34-year-old Megan Longo Villanella.

Villanella, a 2000 Council Rock graduate, died after being struck by a car the morning of March 3 while waiting at a bus stop at Lakeside Avenue and Pease Avenue in Verona, N.J. According to Casale’s attorney, he was driving to Livingston, where he was employed as a maintenance worker in the police department, NJ.com reported.

Casale allegedly admitted to using heroin and other drugs for several years, and has multiple prior drug arrests and car crashes, Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Tara Creegan said during a detention hearing on Thursday.

Creegan said that Casale told staff at Mountainside Hospital after the crash that he didn't recall what happened and that he “injected heroin.” Police reportedly found Casale at the scene of the crash with glassy eyes and a dried, white substance on his lips, Creegan alleged.

NJ.com reported authorities said Casale nodded off in the police car as officers drove him away from the crash scene.

Casale’s attorney pointed out that heroin can stay in a person's system for two to seven days after they use it.

“This certainly doesn't stand for the supposition that this person was under the influence at the time of the incident," he said.

Villanella was due with her second child in May. She was married with a 22-month-old daughter, Isabelle Ava, her obituary stated. Villanella's brother, who was waiting at the bus stop with her, was also seriously injured in the crash, authorities said.

Photo: Megan Longo Villanella, via her obituary