A Richland Township man with an open DUI case faces homicide charges for allegedly driving with a blood alcohol content level nearly four times above the legal limit when he was involved in a fatal accident earlier this year.
Richland Township police allege that Donald Best Jr. who turns 51 on Sept. 1, had a blood alcohol level of .303 when he rear-ended a pickup truck on Route 309, then struck an SUV head-on at Quakers Way on March 1.
A blood alcohol level of .3 BAC is considered severe and life-threatening, according to MedlinePlus.com
Police allege that PennDOT cameras in the area show that Best was driving his 2024 GMC Hummer EV behind a 2021
Ram pickup southbound on Route 309 near Quaker Way.
Best allegedly appeared to be speeding before braking suddenly and rear-ending the pickup, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
The pickup pulled to the center turning lane and the Hummer suddenly turned left onto Quakers Way, overshooting the entrance and striking a 2025 Mazda SUV head-on, the affidavit said.
Neither Best or the pickup driver were hurt, but the driver and passenger in the Mazda suffered life-threatening injuries and they had to be extricated from the vehicle, the affidavit said.
The driver, Thomas Kramer, suffered rib fractures, a collapsed lung, open leg fracture, head fracture and arm fracture among other injuries.
His passenger, Melody Flyte, was unconscious, the affidavit said. She sustained injuries including multiple spine fractures, brain hemorrhage, and leg injuries. She died Aug. 26.
When police interviewed Best after the accident, he told them he was unable to remember what happened, but he believed he hit the pickup truck after it cut in front of him, then attempted a left turn onto Quakers Way and didn’t see the Mazda SUV.
Best told police he did not drink any alcohol that day, but he appeared to be under the influence, but refused a sobriety test and voluntary blood sample request, the affidavit said.
Police allegedly found an open, nearly empty 19-ounce can of Golden Monkey IPA inside the Hummer. The beverage has a 9.5% alcohol content, the affidavit said.
Best was arrested on Aug. 12 in Richland on misdemeanor DUI charges and he is awaiting a preliminary hearing, according to the public court docket.
He is currently in custody in central Pennsylvania and he is expected to return to Bucks County Tuesday to be arraigned on four felony charges including homicide by vehicle and homicide by vehicle while DUI and related misdemeanors and summary offenses
Crime and Courts Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at Jciavaglia@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Richland man charged in fatal DUI has another DUI case pending | Exclusive
