Mother Charged With Homicide By Vehicle In Child’s Death In Chesco

CHESTER COUNTY —A 37-year-old Atglen woman was charged with homicide-by-vehicle in the May 2021 death of her eight-year-old daughter, Chester County District Attorney’s office announced Thursday.

Tricia Consul, 37, of Atglen, is in Chester County Prison after being arraigned in lieu of $100,000 bail after being arraigned before District Judge Nancy Gill in Parkesburg on charges of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle and related charges.

Consul was involved in a May 22, 2021 car crash in West Sadsbury Township in which her 8-year-old child was killed and two other children, ages 9 and 11, were seriously injured, police said.

Police said Consul was driving with an expired license, no seatbelt, and a syringe and prescription pill in the vehicle.

“This horrific case demonstrates the irreparable dangers of driving while high or drunk and its ramifications on people’s lives,” District Attorney Deb Ryan said Thursday.

“Her behavior was reckless and dangerous, and showed no regard for the safety of the children in her car or other drivers on the road. My office will work diligently to ensure justice for the child who died and the child survivors.”

According to police:

• May 22, 2021, West Sadsbury police responded to a one-car crash in the 4800 block of Strasburg Road involving the entrapment of passengers with serious injuries.
• The crash occurred after the defendant struck a bridge abutment with four people inside. The car had severe damage to the right front passenger side; multiple airbags were deployed.
• Police started CPR on an unrestrained 8-year-old child sitting in the front passenger seat who was not breathing.
• The child was transported to Brandywine Hospital and Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, where she was pronounced dead.
• Police located a 9-year-old and an 11-year-old, who had been riding in the back seat, outside the car, with serious injuries.
• They were transported to area hospitals where one was determined to have a broken arm and the other a broken jaw. Both were treated and released.
• The defendant was taken to Paoli Hospital, where she submitted to a blood test. The defendant suffered a broken femur and sternum and a lacerated spleen.