Police

Woman ‘Passed Out’ in Car on Rosalie Drive Charged With DUI, Police Say

A Springfield Township woman who previously served time in state prison for DUI is charged with DUI and careless driving after Lower Saucon Township police say she was found “passed out in the driver seat” of her car on Rosalie Drive Jan. 4.

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A Springfield Township woman who previously served time in state prison for DUI is charged with DUI and careless driving after Lower Saucon Township police say she was found “passed out in the driver seat” of her car on Rosalie Drive Jan. 4.

In a news release issued Saturday, police said Holly Byra, 50, of the 2800 block of Rt. 212, was found in that condition after a witness reported seeing her car stopped “across both lanes of Leithsville Road in the area of Bechdolt’s Orchard” shortly before 7 p.m.

Police said the witness also reported that Byra “had great difficulty getting her vehicle back into a lane of travel” and was unable to maintain a lane of travel “from that point to where she pulled over on Rosalie Drive.”

When an officer arrived at the scene, police said he found Byra’s car parked and running with its lights on.

Byra, who was the only occupant of the vehicle, “appeared very confused and unable to operate the controls in her vehicle to open the window,” police said.

When she opened the door, the officer reportedly detected the “strong odor” of an alcoholic beverage and observed that Byra’s motor skills were “highly impaired,” according to the news release.

Byra failed field sobriety tests and was arrested on charges of DUI and careless driving, police said.

Since she refused a blood draw, they added she will be subject to enhanced penalties if convicted and will automatically lose her driving privileges for one year.

According to online court records, Byra has been found guilty of DUI at least twice before.

Byra was first arrested for DUI in September 2010 and accepted a negotiated plea in September 2011. She was initially sentenced by Northampton County Judge Kimberly McFadden to serve one week in county prison followed by 23 days of work release, two months of electronic monitoring and 57 months of supervision, along with receiving an 18-month driver’s license suspension.

In March 2012 records indicate she was sentenced to 1 to 5 years in state prison by Judge Michael Koury for a second DUI offense (highest rate of alcohol, BAC .16 or higher) and violation of the conditions of her original sentence. That sentence was later modified so the minimum amount of time served would be 9 months, when it was ruled Byra was an “eligible offender” for the state’s recidivism risk reduction incentive (RRRI), and Byra was paroled in October 2012, the records indicate.

In a separate state police case from September 2016, Byra is currently facing charges including third-degree misdemeanor accident involving damage to an attended vehicle property and summary offenses including driving an unregistered vehicle, careless driving and failure to stop and give information or render aid.

She remained free on $1,000 unsecured bail in that case at the time of her arrest in Lower Saucon Township Jan. 4, according to court records.

A trial in that case is scheduled for Feb. 27 before Northampton County Judge Samuel P. Murray.

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About the author

Josh Popichak

Josh Popichak is the owner, publisher and editor of Saucon Source. A Lehigh Valley native, he's covered local news since 2005 and previously worked for Berks-Mont News and AOL/Patch. Contact him at josh@sauconsource.com.

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