A Middletown Township man with what police describe as “probably inoperable” throat cancer struck a deal with prosecutors at a preliminary hearing Tuesday. The hearing was on charges he caused an accident that left a man with memory loss and permanent nerve damage.
Charges of aggravated assault, aggravated assault by vehicle, recklessly endangering another person and related offenses for Robert Berue, 50, of the Langhorne section of Middletown, were waived to trial in Doylestown before District Judge Jan Vislosky. According to an article on PhillyBurbs.com, the district attorney will withdraw the most serious charge of aggravated assault if Berue pleads guilty at trial.
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According to court papers, Berue was driving north on Route 13, just past the Route 1 interchange, in Falls Township when his vehicle crossed the double yellow lines and slammed into the victim’s vehicle head-on in April 2012. The victim suffered numerous life-threatening injuries and continues extensive rehab, including one month to learn to walk again.
A responding officer said Berue kept saying, “I’m sorry, I’m really sorry,” as he was pulled from the wreckage of his car. He also said he “just wanted to clear his head,” according to police.
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When police went to Berue’s house to notify his family of the serious crash, his wife appeared annoyed when the officer showed up and asked what her husband did, a criminal complaint states. It goes on to say that the 50-year-old’s wife said she knew “he was going to do something like this,” following the officer advising of the crash. She then broke down to tears and said, “He’s ruined our family!”
Police found out Berue had suffered mental health issues in the past and was diagnosed with severe throat cancer around the time of the crash and was angry about his diagnosis. A family fight earlier in the evening forced Middletown authorities to respond, court documents state.
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Berue’s wife said she begged him to go to Lower Bucks Hospital’s mental health center to talk with someone. He agreed and left the house just before 8 p.m., police said. Less than an hour later the accident happened.
The wife said she did not drive her husband to the hospital because she was afraid he was “going to take the whole family out.” She explained further that she was worried he would grab the steering wheel and turn it into oncoming traffic.”
The wife said she begged Berue to go to a mental health crisis center, and that he agreed and left the house about 7:45 p.m., police said. The crash occurred less than an hour after that.
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Berue is free on $75,000 unsecured bail.
