Man Charged With Crashing Into Bedroom Of Hospice Patient

Bristol Township police have charged a 20-year-old man with a hit-and-run crash in Levittown.

Ronald Simmons of Bristol Borough was charged Monday morning with risking a catastrophe, criminal mischief, accidents involving death or serious injury, reckless endangerment, DUI and related offenses.

Simmons told investigators he had smoked marijuana and was attempting to grab a water bottle that slipped under his brake pedal  around 2:40 a.m. on December 26. His red pickup truck jumped the curb, traveled 99 feet and struck the corner of 67 Red Brook Lane, where an ailing 93-year-old Jennie Russo was resting in her hospice bed, according to authorities.

Simmons drove off after striking the house and disappeared into the night, police said.

During his interview, Simmons said he drove off because he was scared, according to court papers.

An autopsy on 58-pound Russo, a longtime resident of 67 Red Brook Lane, showed she died from “in-stage lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis,” police said. Russo suffered from the lung disease for years and was in the final stages of her life, her family told LevittownNow.com in December. 

Police said in winter that the autopsy found the crash did not cause the injuries that killed Russo.

Ron Russo said he was sleeping  in a room over from his mother’s bedroom, when he heard the crash. He rushed into her room to see a dresser leaning against his mother’s hospice bed. He tended to her, scooped her up and moved her into another bedroom. Minutes later, firefighters from Levittown Fire Company No. 2 moved the hospital bed into the living room of her home, Ron Russo said.

Shortly after being moved, Russo died.

“She was too frail for those moves, but we had to move her,” Ron Russo said.

Police collected paint chips and other pieces of the pickup from the scene.

About 12 hours after the crash, Bristol Borough police found the damaged pickup truck parked in the 500 block of Bath Street. The truck was towed to Bristol Township’s police lot and Simmons spoke with investigators.

Blood test results showed Simmons had chemicals found in marijuana in his system, court papers filed by Officer Paul Aita stated.

Police said in spring that they were awaiting results of a blood test before charging Simmons.

The 20 year old was arraigned via video before District Judge Robert Wagner and released on $750,000 unsecured bail.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.