City man pleads guilty to DUI crash that severely injured pedestrian
A Lancaster city man pleaded guilty last month to striking and severely injuring a pedestrian while driving drunk.
Tyler Anthony Stewart, of the 1300 block of Calvert Lane, pleaded guilty before Judge Dennis Reinaker on Nov. 17 to felony counts of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, accidents involving death or injury while not licensed, aggravated assault by vehicle and six other misdemeanor and summary offenses. Judge Reinaker will sentence Stewart following the completion of a pre-sentence investigation.
Stewart, 31, later told police he had consumed a pint of vodka several hours before he struck the victim in the 1500 block of Oregon Pike in Manheim Township while running late to pick up his girlfriend from work the evening of Oct. 18, 2024.
The victim suffered a traumatic brain injury and numerous broken bones including his pelvis and spine. The victim was also intubated for several months.
A blood draw showed that Stewart had a blood alcohol content of 0.437% — more than five times the legal limit.
Investigators also found that Stewart’s drivers license was suspended at the time of the crash.
Video footage from a nearby business showed Stewart speeding and traveling with no lights in the moments before the crash shortly before 11 p.m. An analysis of the footage determined that Stewart was traveling twice the speed limit in the area.
Police encountered the victim laying in the middle of the road with severe injuries and road rash when, while attending to his injuries, they witnessed Stewart subsequently crash into a pole in a closed business’ parking lot on the opposite side of Lititz Pike. Stewart’s vehicle was heavily damaged and appeared to have struck a person.
The impact of the collision was so severe that Stewart himself was also injured and was taken to a nearby hospital.
As he was receiving treatment Stewart told police he believed he may have struck a pedestrian. Days later, Stewart admitted to having consumed alcohol before he got behind the wheel.
Assistant District Attorney Kyle Linardo prosecuted the case.
Manheim Township Police Officer Adam Lawson filed the charges.
