The Bensalem Man who struck and killed John Duggan of Bristol Township on Christmas Eve in 2021 agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors officials announced Tuesday.
Kevin Baker, 21 pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter for the crash that killed John Dugan as he crossed State Road in Bristol Township to go to a Christmas party. Baker also pleaded guilty to dealing large quantities of marijuana from his Bensalem apartment, officials said.
In the negotiated sentence, President Judge Wallace H. Bateman sentenced Baker to 2 ½ years to 5 years in state prison on the involuntary manslaughter charge and time served to 23 months for one count of manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
The investigation found that Dugan fell on the street and was run over by a truck driven by Baker. The Bucks County 20th Investigating Grand Jury heard testimony from several witnesses, including Bristol Township Police Officer Kenneth Margerum, the lead investigator in the crash, in reaching the recommendation to charge Baker.
Christmas Eve will never be the same,” one of his daughters said, describing her father as a caring, hard-working, and fun-loving man. His daughter-in-law said that the fun, enjoyment, and excitement of Christmas Eve is now replaced with sadness since Dugan’s death, a press release says.
Dugan’s fiance, Christina Mazzatenta told police they were crossing State Road when he fell on the road, likely caused by a medical condition that causes his legs and feet to give out. The woman told police she tried to help Dugan up, but a truck “passed me real fast and hit John,”
Days after the hit-and-run an out cry by the family seeking witnesses to the crash led to an aggressive search to locate the striking vehicle, a red Chevrolet Silverado and video footage.
Baker’s father turned him into authorities after seeing all of the local media coverage of the hit and run killing.
While out on bail, he was arrested by Bensalem Township Police for a series of controlled illegal narcotics purchases, particularly marijuana and Delta-9 THC vape cartridges. The investigation found that Baker ran an illegal drug operation that he advertised through social media.
In total, the Bensalem Township Police Special Investigations Unit seized 6.7 pounds of marijuana, over 200 THC vape cartridges, numerous marijuana edibles, drug paraphernalia, and more than $120,000 in US currency.
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