An alleged hit-and-run driver is now in custody following a tragic car crash in Bristol, Pennsylvania, which resulted in the deaths of two individuals and left two others injured. The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at the intersection of Veterans Highway and Ford Road.
Surveillance footage captured a black Ford Explorer traveling at a high rate of speed along Ford Road before colliding with a red Nissan Sentra at the intersection. The video also shows the SUV coming to a stop roughly 100 feet down Ford Road. The driver, identified as 31-year-old John Wadlinger from Croydon, was seen exiting the vehicle and fleeing the scene on foot.
Bristol Police Lieutenant Sean Cosgrove revealed that Wadlinger’s escape was short-lived. “He stole a tri-axle dump truck that was parked in a nearby industrial area,” Cosgrove recounted. “He drove it for a short distance before losing control and overturning it, fleeing on foot once again before being apprehended.”
Tragically, two passengers in the Nissan, identified as Rebecca and Richard Whiddon of Brooklyn, Connecticut, lost their lives at the scene. The couple, who had been married since 2017, were visiting a friend in the area. The other two passengers were transported to Jefferson-Torresdale Hospital to receive treatment for their injuries. One remains in critical condition, while the driver of the Nissan miraculously sustained only minor injuries.
The owner of Beach’s Hardware, located at the intersection where the collision occurred, expressed disbelief at the survivability of the crash. “It was probably the loudest accident I’ve heard at this intersection in 25-plus years,” the owner stated. “There have been some pretty decent accidents, but unfortunately, I think this one is probably the worst I’ve personally witnessed.”
Even law enforcement officials acknowledged the difficulty of investigating this particular collision. “This is a tough one,” remarked Cosgrove. “You don’t see incidents like this very often. A married couple who came to visit this area tragically lost their lives. No, this is not something I’ve encountered frequently, something this severe.”
1 Response
I remember reading about a similar case in my local news a few months ago. It involved a hit-and-run incident that occurred in a residential neighborhood. A driver, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, struck a pedestrian crossing the street and fled the scene without stopping to help.
Fortunately, there were witnesses who immediately called emergency services and provided a description of the vehicle. The police were able to track down the driver and apprehend them a few hours later. Sadly, the pedestrian did not survive