Man Charged In Crash That Hurt 4 High Schoolers Wanted For Dangerous Driving In Ireland

The foreign national who is awaiting trial for an alleged DUI crash that left four Neshaminy High School students badly hurt is wanted by authorities in Europe.

Shane Brolly, 24, a United Kingdom citizen who was living in Philadelphia, is awaiting a fall trial on 29 charges, including aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, accidents involving injury, DUI, and related offenses. His charges were waived from district court to Bucks County Common Pleas court in May following a preliminary hearing, according to court dockets.

The Belfast, Northern Ireland-based Sunday Life tabloid reported Brolly, who was in the U.S. on an expired work visa, fled the territory that is part of the United Kingdom while awaiting sentencing in a case where he reportedly led police on a 16-mile chase where speeds reached 114 mph after drinking in June 2019.

Brolly, according to Sunday Life, pleaded guilty to charges including dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol in September 2019.

Bucks County Deputy District Attorney Robert James said he is aware Brolly entered a plea in Northern Ireland in 2019 and never returned to court for sentencing.

There is an arrest warrant for Brolly from authorities in the United Kingdom, district attorney’s office spokesperson Manuel Gamiz said.

USA Today Network reporter Jo Ciavaglia broke the news locally on Friday about Brolly’s overseas case.

Brolly has been in Bucks County custody on 10 percent of $10 million bail since the he was hospitalized after the crash that occurred around 10:12 p.m. on Saturday, March 27 in the 300 block of Bridgetown Pike near Playwicki Farm in Northampton Township.

Blood test results showed Brolly had a blood-alcohol content of 0.21 percent after the crash. The legal limit for operating a vehicle in Pennsylvania is .08 percent, authorities said.

A preliminary crash investigation by police found a 2013 GMC Sierra pickup truck was traveling northbound on Bridgetown Pike when it struck a southbound vehicle after crossing the center line. A third vehicle was then involved in the wreck.

Brolly, who was not authorized to drive in Pennsylvania, and a passenger were in the 2013 GMC Sierra, three adults were in a 2015 Nissan Murano, and the four Neshaminy High School juniors were in a 2019 Mazda CX5.

Authorities said in a court filing that Brolly attempted to pass the Murano by crossing lanes in the area that is a no-passing zone. While attempting to pass the vehicle, Brolly’s pickup truck struck the CX5 with the teens inside. The force of the crash pushed the CX5 50 feet and caused it to roll over.

The investigating officer made note in an affidavit that they “observed significant damage to all three vehicles involved in this crash, consistent with a high-speed impact.”

Brolly was hospitalized with injuries; his passenger suffered “serious internal injuries” that required emergency surgery; one of the teens suffered a broken arm, broken femur, and serious internal injuries requiring surgical repair; the second had life-threatening injuries; the third had internal injuries; and the forth had internal injuries requiring surgical repair and trauma to her face and head, police said.

The four teens are recovering and were welcomed home in late April with a celebration in Levittown.

The four injured teens – known as the Neshaminy Four – had a huge amount of support and a GoFundMe to help pay for their recovery has raised $150,000.

“All of the girls are doing better and making progress. They still have a long road ahead of them to make a full recovery, but through the kindness of people like you, it is and will become a reality,” an update on the fundraiser from June said.