A Philadelphia man was allegedly driving under the influence when he was involved in an accident and injured after his car ran over him in Wrightstown.
But Joseph Ellis Jr., 48, is not charged with DUI in two hit-and-run accidents he allegedly committed in neighboring Northampton shortly before the third accident where he was hurt, according to online court documents.
Newtown Township and Northampton police on Monday each filed charges against Ellis in connection with the June 15 accidents. Ellis also has another pending DUI case from earlier this year in Wrightstown, court records show.
Northampton Acting Police Chief Lt. Mike Clark said that Ellis was driving a truck owned by a landscaping company where he had worked until he was terminated when the accidents occurred. The company had been seeking return of its truck, Clark said.
The first incident happened in the 800 block of Bustleton Pike at the Crossroads Shopping Plaza. The second occurred two miles away, at Sackettsford Road and Second Street Pike, police said. No one was injured in either accident, police said.
After striking the second car, it appears Ellis drove north on Second Street Pike another two miles into Wrightstown, police said. Shortly after noon, Newtown Township police, who patrol Wrightstown, received a report of a one-car accident with injuries in the 2500 block of Second Street Pike.
When the officer arrived at the scene, he found Ellis out of his truck, which was stuck in a ditch, police said. He appeared injured and lethargic, according to police.
A witness at the scene told police that Ellis stopped his truck on the road in front of her house and asked if she had any gas. Police did not say if the witness provided the man with gas.
But when Ellis got back into his truck, it started rolling backward and the open driver’s side door knocked him to the ground, the witness told police. When Ellis was on the ground, the truck ran over his leg. He was taken to St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown for treatment.
Newtown Township police have charged Ellis with driving under the influence, careless driving and disregard of traffic lanes. Northampton police filed three counts of recklessly endangering another person, two counts of accidents involving damage, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and other summary traffic citations.
The Courier Times was unsuccessful in reaching the assistant district attorney who approved the Northampton charges.
Jo Ciavaglia: 215-949-4181; email: Twitter: @jociavaglia
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