Woman Reaches Plea Deal In Bristol Assault By Vehicle Case

A woman accused of intentionally striking a pedestrian with her vehicle outside a Bristol Borough bar has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Laurie Ann Gardner, 32, waived her preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge David Chichilitti.

Under the terms of the deal with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, charges of aggravated assault and simple assault will be dropped.

Gardner instead will plead guilty to aggravated assault by vehicle, reckless endangerment, and other related offenses.

Defense attorney Paul Lang said Gardner has agreed to serve a term of just under one year in county jail.

The defendant remains in custody unable to post bail pending a future appearance before a Court of Common Pleas judge to finalize the agreement.

The charges stem from an April 26, 2025, incident outside Phinny Magee’s Pub on Farragut Avenue.

Bristol Borough police allege Gardner targeted a woman with her vehicle following an earlier dispute.

Police said Gardner struck a bench with such force that the structure was bent and the victim was injured.

The victim was present in court Wednesday as the deal was presented.

Gardner, who previously lived in Bristol and Newtown townships, was the subject of a months-long search before being nabbed in early January.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Service located her at a residence on Thornyapple Lane in the Levittown section of Falls Township, where officials said she had been staying with a boyfriend.