Man Drove 70-80 MPH Through Hellertown on Flat Tire, Had .26 BAC, Police Say

Lower Saucon Township Police say a Tinicum Township, Bucks County man was charged with reckless driving, DUI and an open container violation after he allegedly led them on a pursuit Sunday that ended at Hickory Lane and Slifer Valley Road in Springfield Township, Bucks County.

The alleged incident began when Hellertown Police were dispatched for a report of reckless driving at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Township police said it was reported that a Dodge ram pickup truck with a missing tire was speeding, passing vehicles and “all over the road.”

Lower Saucon police picked up the pursuit on Rt. 412 south of Hellertown, where an officer said he observed “a debris trail and distinct marks on the asphalt from the truck traveling on the rim” as he followed the driver into upper Bucks County.

By the time the officer caught up to the pickup and was able to stop it, police said it was disabled, and the driver attempted to wave the officer past it after getting out.

At that time, police said it was observed that the man–who was identified as Anthony Hock, of the 3200 block of Farm School Road–had “poor balance,” and he was ordered back into the truck.

Multiple signs of impairment were then allegedly detected, in addition to the odor of alcohol, and a nearly empty bottle of Goldschlager liqueur was found next to the driver’s seat in the truck, police stated.

After he allegedly failed field sobriety tests, police said Hock was arrested and his blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was determined to be .26 percent, which is more than three times the legal limit for most drivers in Pennsylvania.

Police said the reckless driving charge filed against Hock will be bolstered by a written statement from a witness in Hellertown, who estimated that Hock was driving “70 to 80 mph through Hellertown on a then flat tire.”

“The witness…observed the tire completely fly off the wheel with the offending truck continuing south on Main Street. The witness observed the offending vehicle then attempt to pass a pizza delivering vehicle on Leithsville Road, resulting in the delivery vehicle being forced off the road,” police said.

“The witness did an excellent job relaying information to Northampton County 911,” police added.