4 To 10 Years In Prison For Man Who Killed Pedestrian While Drunk

A 28-year-old Bristol Township man who had trouble with alcohol was sentenced to state prison for killing a 67-year-old pedestrian while intoxicated last year.

Tyler Buras, 28, was sentenced Monday by Bucks County Judge Brian McGuffin to four to 10 years in state prison as part of a negotiated plea deal. Once released, Buras will get two years of probation.

Buras was driving drunk in the 200 block of Newportville Road in his 1997 Buick Park Avenue on the evening of July 2 when he lost control, slammed into 67-year-old pedestrian Gail Olson of Croydon, and then a home.

Olson was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead due to her injuries.

Police said that Buras, an auto body repair estimator, had consumed four to five beers and smoked marijuana earlier in the day. His blood alcohol level was .213 after the crash. The legal limit is .08.

In addition to drinking, Buras had one hand being used to steady a ratchet strap holding a kayak in the rear of his sedan. He told investigators he was reaching down to grab a water bottle that fell onto the car floor and steering with his knees when the crash happened.

Buras was charged following the fatal crash.

While free on bail and awaiting trial months later, Buras was behind the wheel in another Bristol Township crash. According to prosecutors, he was driving drunk at the time.

“You’re a drunk and there is a lady who’s gone as a result of it,” McGuffin told Buras. “It’s disrespectful to her memory to go out and drink and drive again … If killing someone doesn’t wake you up, what will, Mr. Buras?”

Buras admitted to the judge that that he had struggled with alcoholism since adolescence and his problem became worse when his wife and 2-year-old daughter moved out in early 2017.

“There is no excuses for my terrible actions that led to Gail’s death,” a letter to the court from Buras read. “I will forever be sorry for what I did on that day. I pray often to Gail. To let her know that I’m thinking about her. Expressing how sorry I am for what I did.”

Olson’s only known living family member was her sister, who did not attend Monday’s sentencing.