David M. Sedlack
Steven Henshaw | Reporter
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Wednesday April 24, 2019 09:58 AM
Drunken 'bus' driver nearly collides with state police car in Oley Township, troopers say
Empty beer bottles were within reach of the Exeter Township man who was driving the old school bus, state police say.
Written by Steven Henshaw
Oley Township, PA —
An Exeter Township man driving an old school bus while under the influence of alcohol and marijuana nearly collided with a state trooper's patrol vehicle, authorities said Tuesday.
The incident happened Monday about 8 p.m. at Route 73 and Oysterdale Road in Oley Township, according to troopers from the Reading station.
Trooper Richard Carpenter provided this account in the arrest affidavit:
Carpenter was westbound on West Philadelphia Avenue, which is Route 73, approaching Oysterdale Road in Pleasantville when a yellow school bus facing a red light turned right in front of him.
Carpenter had to brake hard to avoid a collision. He stopped the bus and approached the driver, David M. Sedlack.
The trooper noticed empty beer bottles within reach of the driver's seat and smelled alcohol on Sedlack's breath.
Sedlack had no documentation for the bus but stated it belonged to him.
Carpenter checked a PennDOT database and determined Sedlack's driver's license was expired. A check for warrants revealed he had multiple scofflaw warrants.
Carpenter searched the bus and found a small bag of marijuana and a glass smoking bowl with what appeared to be marijuana residue.
Sedlack refused a blood-alcohol test and was taken into custody.
Sedlack, 35, of the first block of Winchester Court was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail following arraignment before Senior District Judge Thomas H. Xavios in Reading Central Court.
Sedlack was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, possessing a small amount marijuana, having open containers of an alcoholic beverage while driving a vehicle and numerous vehicle code violations.
Troopers said the bus was no longer registered as a school bus. All the markings had been removed so it could be legally operated on public roads if properly registered.
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