Bensalem Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Couple, Seriously Injuring Two Others High on Illicit Stimulants

A Bensalem man on Thursday entered guilty pleas for causing the crash that took the lives of a couple from Connecticut in February and seriously injured two others 

John Thomas Wadlinger Jr., entered an open plea before Common Pleas Judge C. Theodore Fritsch, Jr. to 20 counts, including two counts each of homicide by vehicle while DUI and homicide by vehicle. Fritsch ordered a pre-sentence investigation and sentencing was deferred for 60 days.

Rebecca Whiddon, 33, and Richard Whiddon, 37, both of Brooklyn, Conn. were passengers in a Nissan Sentra  headed westbound on Ford Road and was attempting to make a left turn onto southbound Veteran’s Highway when it was struck by a black Ford Explorer, driven by Wadlinger, traveling east on Ford Road at an excessively high rate of speed.

Wadlinger, the investigation showed, was hopped on methamphetamines and amphetamines traveling at about twice the speed limit at the time of impact investigators said.

The couple died at the scene, and the driver and another occupant of the Nissan sustained significant injuries authorities said.

Wadlinger fled the scene on foot before police arrived. He then stole a dump truck and drove off, crashing it and again fleeing on foot. He was taken into custody a short time later.

Wadlinger also entered guilty pleas to aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, accidents involving death or injury, accidents involving death or injury while not properly licensed, driving under the influence, fleeing or eluding police, evading arrest or detention, theft by unlawful taking, criminal mischief, possession of an instrument of crime, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, driving on a suspended license, defiant trespassing, reckless driving and driving at unsafe speeds.