Photo by James Short.
Thomas Sands Yezzi, 57, crashed his Mercedes into a barn on private property, police said.
A Worcester Township man faces separate charges of misdemeanor DUI, and DUI with a BAC of .275%, for, authorities allege, striking a pedestrian and crashing his Mercedes into a barn on a property on Bethel Road in the township in March.
Thomas Sands Yezzi, 57, of the 2500 block of Crestline Drive, was charged with a DUI above .16% and misdemeanor accidents involving damage to attended property, as well as numerous summary offenses including driving a vehicle with wanton disregard for the safety of people or property, careless driving, possession of an open alcoholic container, standing or parking a vehicle in front of a driveway, moving a vehicle in an unsafe manner, and backing up a vehicle improperly, according to court records.
Pennsylvania State Police were dispatched at 6 p.m. March 20 to a home on the 2000 block of Bethel Road in Worcester for a vehicle crash involving a struck pedestrian, according to an affidavit.
Upon arrival, police found a damaged fence at the front of the property, and continuing down the driveway to the residence, police saw a black 2013 Mercedes-Benz sedan behind a barn, per the affidavit. There was also damage to the front lawn, where dirt, tire marks and debris were kicked up everywhere.
Police said there was a statue, a sewage line and a pump on the front lawn that had sustained damage.
A witness at the scene told police that the victim got stuck, and the victim told police that Yezzi damaged the front yard with the Mercedes, per the complaint. The victim had an open wound on his front arm and told police he was standing in the area of the lawn with the damaged statute and debris, police said.
Police said the victim had approached the black Mercedes to find out what it was doing on his property. As the victim opened the front passenger door to speak to Yezzi, police allege, and Yezzi hit the gas, striking the victim with the door and knocking him to the ground.
Tire marks in the grass led toward the silo and barn, police said, where the Mercedes crashed into the barn’s garage doors, sustaining moderate front-end damage.
Yezzi was in the driver’s seat, and was dazed and confused, police allege in the complaint. Police administered a sternum rub to make sure Yezzi was conscious, which he was, police said.
When asked his name, he said “Tom Yezzi,” police said, and when asked if he lived at the Bethel Road home, he said, “Yes,” while attempting to turn on the car.
Police said Yezzi’s movements were slow and he stated his address while slurring the words. Police asked if he consumed any alcohol, and Yezzi said he did not, per the complaint. Yezzi could not provide details as to how the crash occurred, police said.
A strong odor of alcohol was emanating from Yezzi’s body, his pupils were dilated, his speech was heavily slurred, and an open bottle of Knob Creek bourbon was on the passenger side floor, police said.
When asked if he was aware he struck a pedestrian, Yezzi allegedly said, “No” and reiterated he had not consumed any alcohol.
Skippack EMS assisted Yezzi from the car, at which time he was unsteady on his feet and unable to walk without assistance, police allege. Yezzi was taken to Jefferson Einstein Hospital by Skippack EMS for evaluation, police said.
Police searched Yezzi’s vehicle and found that the bourbon was purchased, along with a bottle of Jose Cuervo tequila, at the Fine Wine and Good Spirits in Audubon on March 20 at 4:54 p.m., about an hour before the crash, per the affidavit.
Yezzi, police said, denied consent to a blood test for BAC. On March 21, a search warrant for the seizure of Yezzi’s blood was drafted, per the complaint. Then, on March 22, a search warrant was served at Einstein Hospital. On March 29, the toxicology report was received, showing a BAC of 0.275%, police said.
A summons was issued July 1 for his arrest, according to court documents. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 11 at 2:15 p.m. before Magisterial District Judge Adam T. Katzman.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
