Fatal Bucks County DUI car accident trial ends in the Defendant’s acquittal of criminal charges

A Bucks County DUI case ended in an acquittal for Defendant Laurence Thompson of Bensalem, PA on Friday, July 31, 2009 in the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas. In question throughout the weeklong trial was whether or not Mr. Thompson was the driver of the vehicle in which the Bucks County car accident victim Mary Anne Locicero was killed.

The charges Mr. Thompson faced were homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, and drunk driving. He had asserted from the time of his arrest that he was not driving the car that crashed on Route 13 in Bensalem, PA.

The fatal Bucks County car accident occurred on March 15, 2009 on Route 13 when Mary Anne Locicero's car, traveling at excessive speed, spun across the highway and hit two guardrails. Defense and prosecution experts alike contend that Ms. Locicero was ejected from the car through the passenger side window, but disagree on who was driving the car.

The prosecution argued that Mr. Thompson was driving the car, given the fact that Ms. Locicero was thrown from the passenger's side window. Defense, however, with the aid of their experts' accident reconstruction demonstrations, argued that Ms. Locicero could have been in the driver's seat and propelled, due to impact, across to the passenger's side, where she was forced from the car.

Providing even more uncertainly as to who was driving were the conflicting stories of the witnesses at the scene of the Bensalem car accident and the bouncer who was working at the Bensalem bar where Mr. Thompson had been drinking prior to getting into Ms. Locicero's car. Those who witnessed the car accident reported to police investigators that Mr. Thompson climbed out of the driver's side window after the crash.

In the end, the jury found Mr. Laurence not guilty. If he had been convicted of the crimes with which he was charged, Mr. Thompson could have spent over 10 years in a state prison.