Croydon man in custody for deadly weekend crash on Veterans Highway in Bristol Township

Criminal charges are pending against a 31-year-old Croydon man with a history of traffic violations for fleeing the scene of a double fatal accident and then allegedly crashing a stolen dump truck in a get-away attempt.

John T. Wadlinger Jr. is incarcerated in Bucks County Correctional Center on a parole violation after he was apprehended following the accident at Ford Road and Veterans Highway on Saturday, Bucks County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Manuel Gamiz confirmed Tuesday.

The DA’s office is expected to file charges against Wadlinger in connection with the accident that killed a married couple from Brooklyn, Connecticut.

According to Bristol Township police, Wadlinger was driving a Ford Explorer east on Ford Road around 1:30 p.m. when it struck a Nissan Sentra that was turning left from westbound Ford Road onto southbound Veterans Highway.

Richard Whiddon, 37, and his wife Rebecca, 33, who were passengers in the Nissan, pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and another passenger, who were not identified, were taken to the hospital where they were treated for injuries, according to a police press release.

Wadlinger was the sole occupant in the Explorer. He allegedly ran from the accident, and stole a dump truck which was then involved in a crash on Veterans Highway, near the intersection with Old Rodgers Road in Bristol, the release said.

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Wadlinger apparently overturned the dump truck while attempting to negotiate a turn, police said.  He was able to escape the truck and ran again, but police apprehended him near the scene of the second accident.

Wadlinger has a history of traffic offenses, according to a review of the court docket.  He was cited in Bristol Township on Jan. 31 with a summary charge of trespassing by motor vehicle, and cited again Feb. 3 in Bristol Borough for driving on a suspended license, records show.

Bristol Township police are asking anyone with information about the accidents to contact lead investigator Officer John Nowicke Badge number #188 at 267-812-3111 or via email at jnowicke188@bristolpd.org.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Charges pending against Croydon man in Bristol Township fatal crash