A Bristol man was sentenced to jail time in connection with a deadly accident on Route 13 that tragically took the life of a 15-year-old Levittown boy.
Brian Patterson, 60, was sentenced last Wednesday to one to six months in county jail for being under the influence of drugs at the time his black VW struck and killed Pennsbury High School student Zachary Gonzalez along the busy roadway in Tullytown. Another teen was injured in the crash.
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A police officer who responded to the initial call said Patterson had slurred speech following the crash and had difficulty understanding officer. Tullytown Officer John Finby wrote in court documents that Patterson appeared to have trouble keeping his balance.
Patterson was not charged with homicide in the teen’s death after police finished their investigation. Officials said they could only charge Patterson in connection with driving intoxicated.
“A crash reconstruction was performed by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office Homicide by Vehicle Task Force. As a result of the investigation, no chargeable violations were found in relation to the crash causation,” according to court paperwork.
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Following the crash, police said they found an empty orange pill bottle on Patterson.
Gonzalez was riding bikes with two friends when the accident happened around 4:40 p.m. on Sunday, January 19.
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The accident happened on southbound Route 13 just past the Old Bristol Pike exit. The 60-year-old said, according to police, there were prescription drugs in the bottle and that he did not have a prescription for the drugs.
As part of his sentence, Patterson will serve two years of probation and community service following his release from prison.
