Pennsylvania

Stomach-churning moment Pennsylvania convict ‘hit-and-run’ driver, 31, ‘crashes into married couple’s sedan at high speed, killing both, before fleeing and stealing dump truck to escape’

Published

2 years ago

February 27, 2024

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Stomach-churning moment Pennsylvania convict ‘hit-and-run’ driver, 31, ‘crashes into married couple’s sedan at high speed, killing both, before fleeing and stealing dump truck to escape’

A Pennsylvania ‘hit-and-run’ left a visiting married couple deceased
The fatal crash took place at an intersection in Bristol Township
John Wadlinger, 31, of Croydon was identified as the alleged driver responsible

By Martha Williams For Dailymail.Com

Published: 00:58 GMT, 28 February 2024 | Updated: 01:25 GMT, 28 February 2024

A ‘hit-and-run’ driver slammed into another vehicle on the roads of Pennsylvania at full speed leaving a married couple dead and two others injured.

The Bucks County car crash took place at the intersection of Veterans Highway and Ford Road in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania, around 1:30 pm on Saturday.

Surveillance video shows the gut-wrenching moment the black Ford Explorer zoomed down the road before pummeling into a car at the intersection.

The vehicle that was slammed into was a red Nissan Sentra carrying four passengers.

Two of the passengers were married couple Richard and Rebecca Whiddon from Brooklyn, Connecticut, who sadly died in the fatal crash.

A ‘hit-and-run’ driver slammed into another vehicle on the roads of Pennsylvania at full speed leaving a married couple dead and two others injured

Two of the passengers were married couple Richard and Rebecca Whiddon from Brooklyn, Connecticut, who sadly died in the fatal crash

The pair, who got married in 2017, were in the area visiting a friend, according to police

The driver allegedly responsible for the fatal crash has been identified as 31-year-old John Wadlinger of Croydon

The pair, who got married in 2017, were in the area visiting a friend, according to police.

First responders to the crash found the Whiddon couple deceased upon arrival.

Amazingly, the driver of the Nissan walked away without any injuries while the third passenger remains hospitalized in critical condition.

The driver allegedly responsible for the fatal crash has been identified as 31-year-old John Wadlinger of Croydon.

Wadlinger has an extensive criminal history – including multiple traffic offenses, and he is being held on a detainer linked to a post conviction.

He was seen exiting the vehicle and fleeing the area on foot following the deadly collision, authorities said.

The suspect didn’t get far before being tracked down and taken into custody, Bristol Township Police Lieutenant Sean Cosgrove said.

‘He stole a tri-axle dump truck that was parked in a nearby industrial area,’ Cosgrove said.

‘He drove that a short distance before losing control of it and overturning it, fleeing on foot again before being taken into custody.’

The Bucks County car crash took place at the intersection of Veterans Highway and Ford Road in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania, around 1:30 pm on Saturday

First responders to the crash found the Whiddon couple deceased upon arrival

A business owner from nearby the crash site described the collision as the ‘loudest’ they have ever heard and the ‘worst’ they’ve ever witnessed.

‘It was probably the loudest accident I’ve heard at this intersection in 25-plus years which, there’s been some pretty decent accidents but unfortunately, I think this one is probably the worst I’ve personally witnessed,’ the owner of Beach’s Hardware told Action News.

Police admitted that this crash was particularly difficult to investigate.

‘This is a tough one,’ Cosgrove noted. ‘You don’t see things like that a lot. A married couple who comes to visit this area is killed tragically. No, this is not something I’ve dealt with a lot, something this bad.’

Charges against Wadlinger are still pending.

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Pennsylvania

Officials react to Pennsylvania abortion ruling, Medicaid ban struck down

Published

3 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Press Room

Officials react to Pennsylvania abortion ruling, Medicaid ban struck down

A Pennsylvania court ruling is reshaping abortion access in the state, striking down a decades-old ban on using Medicaid to pay for abortions and declaring that the Pennsylvania Constitution guarantees a right to abortion.

The decision came Monday from the state’s Commonwealth Court. In a 4-3 vote, judges ruled in favor of abortion rights in Pennsylvania and invalidated the state’s restriction on Medicaid-funded abortions.

Local abortion-rights advocates praised the ruling as a major step toward protecting access for low-income residents. Adrienne Daily, co-founder of Johnstown for Choice, said, “Everybody should have the right to that. If you restrict the coverage, you’re obviously discriminating against those that have lower income.”

Opponents of abortion rights called the decision a dramatic expansion of the court’s power and warned it will force taxpayers to pay for procedures they oppose. Michael Geer, president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, said, “Taxpayers now in Pennsylvania will have no choice under this court ruling to fund abortions. And there are many, many millions of Pennsylvanians who think abortion is wrong. It’s the taking of an innocent human life and to force taxpayers who conscientiously object to abortion to then fund it is just plain wrong.”

Abortion-rights advocates pushed back, arguing abortion access is healthcare and a personal decision. Daily said, “This is a family issue. This is a personal issue. This is a bodily autonomy issue.”

Pro-life leaders also warned the ruling could have broader implications for other abortion-related laws. Geer said, “It is sweeping and there’s no question it’s judicial overreach.” He added, “If this ruling stands, it will invite attacks on every remaining pro-life safeguard that has been put into law by lawmakers at the behest to the people of Pennsylvania over decades.”

The case could still be appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. That decision lies with Republican Attorney General Dave Sunday. His office has not provided a response, but the Associated Press reported a spokesperson said the office is reviewing the decision and did not say whether it will appeal.

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Pennsylvania

Wu-Tang Clan member opens clothing store in Pennsylvania

Published

15 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

Wu-Tang Clan member opens clothing store in Pennsylvania

Johnstown, Pa. (WJAC) — The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame just released this year’s list of inductees, and a new clothing store just opened in the Johnstown Galleria.

What do these two things have in common?

If you grew up listening to 90’s hip-hop, then you’re probably familiar with the Wu-Tang Clan.

Wu-Tang Clan member opens clothing store in Pennsylvania (WJAC)

They said, “We’re in the building right now, we’re out in Johnstown making it happen, fashion and rapping, and Wu-Tang, you already know Wu-Tang is the witty, unpredictable talent and natural game. So, it’s all grassroots with us, man. We do everything from scratch.”

They’re being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, and Darryl Hill, aka Cappadonna, and manager Al “Heck” Felder are opening the Pillage, a clothing store in the Johnstown Galleria, selling apparel with a purpose.

Cappadonna said, “‘Cappadonna,’ that stands for ‘Consider All Poor People Acceptable, Don’t Oppress Nor Neglect Anyone,’ and we stand on that.”

They were introduced to mall owner Leo Karruli through Mustafa Curry, a childhood friend from New York, who owns a store on Main Street in Johnstown.

Heck said, “BK Styles, I’ve got to give a shout out to my boy, Mustafa. They’ve got some apparel down there, too. We’re all over. We’re spreading the word and we’re spreading the love.”

Wu-Tang Clan member opens clothing store in Pennsylvania (WJAC)

Their other clothing line, Angry Elephant, promotes being good stewards of the Earth, with a portion of the proceeds protecting the animals from poachers.

They said they believe in always putting God and family first.

Cappadonna said, “When you recognize the God in us, then you can see the God in you.”

They said they want kids to know that violence is not the answer, and it doesn’t cost anything to be kind.

Cappadonna said, “We just want to say that it’s nice to be important, but it’s even more important to be nice.”

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Pennsylvania

Mother, 6 children die in Central Pennsylvania house explosion, state police say

Published

1 day ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

Mother, 6 children die in Central Pennsylvania house explosion, state police say

A mother and her six children died when their Central Pennsylvania home exploded and caught on fire Sunday morning, state police said.

The explosion and fire happened at around 8:30 a.m. at a home on Long Run Road in Lamar Township, Clinton County, which is roughly 35 miles from State College. Crews arrived on the scene and found the home fully engulfed in flames, with the mother and her six children trapped.

State police identified the 34-year-old woman who died in the fire as Sarah B. Stolzfus. Her 11-year-old son, 10-year-old son, 8-year-old daughter, 6-year-old daughter, 5-year-old son and 3-year-old son also died in the blaze, according to state police.

A propane leak inside the house might’ve caused the explosion and fire, state police said. Propane tanks outside the home did not explode or contribute to the fire, according to state police.

The explosion and fire are under investigation by state police.

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