Police say a 26-year-old Richland Township woman was driving under the influence of alcohol when she allegedly drove the wrong way on the Rt. 309 bypass north of Rt. 113 in Hilltown Township and struck a northbound car around 12:12 a.m. Saturday, killing another driver.
In a news release Saturday, Hilltown Township Police said Noelle Theresa Chew, of Fieldstone Court, Quakertown, “was travelling southbound in the northbound lanes of the…divided highway. A 2000 Kia Sephia driven by Damian Toalombo, 24, of Allentown, was travelling northbound in the northbound lanes. The vehicles collided head-on in the left, passing, lane of the highway.”
Toalombo was taken to Grand View Hospital in Sellersville, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
“As Chew was being transported to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, she created a disturbance in the ambulance and refused treatment,” police said.
“At that time, she was taken into custody by Hilltown Police and subsequently charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol, homicide by vehicle, DUI-general impairment alcohol, reckless driving and driving on roadways laned for traffic,” police added. “Chew was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Rober L. Wagner Jr. of Levittown and remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility (in Doylestown) in lieu of posting 10 percent of her $500,000 bail.”
As of Sunday, Chew had not posted bail, according to county court records.
Hilltown Police said in their Facebook post about the accident their investigation into the accident is continuing.
A preliminary hearing for Chew is scheduled for 9 a.m. Jan. 27 before District Judge Regina Armitage of New Britain, the news release said.
It also said that Hilltown Police have been assisted by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office Crash Investigation Team, Pennridge Regional Police, Souderton Fire Company, Souderton Fire Police, the Bucks County Coroner’s Office and Grand View Hospital’s Medic 151.
On the Hilltown Township Police Facebook page, Toalombo was remembered in a comment by a man who said he is a family member.
“RIP Cuz…Damian Toalombo,” wrote Ray Ortiz. “My family are all in shambles because of this tragic accident.”
