Photo by James Short.
A Warrington Township man has been charged with aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by a vehicle, and misdemeanor DUI and reckless endangerment of another person, following a six-month investigation after he allegedly crashed his Tesla into a Bristol Road home.
Joshua Seth England, 42, of the 500 block of Cornell Drive, is accused by Doylestown Township Police in Bucks County of being high on marijuana when he crashed his white 2021 Tesla Model Y into 3099 Bristol Road at 56 mph at 10:35 p.m. Oct. 19, 2024, negligently and severely injuring the female homeowner and leaving her husband and young son in emotional distress, police allege in an affidavit of probable cause. Bristol Road is posted 35 mph.
“It felt like a bomb went off” is what the victim told investigators on the night of the crash. She would eventually go on to suffer three shattered ribs, nine staples in her head, a lacerated liver, a deep tibia contusion, and ankle lacerations, with treatment at Abington Hospital, according to the affidavit.
At 10:39 p.m. Oct. 19, officers responded to the home for a report of a car into a house, where the driver of the vehicle, alleged to be England, was trapped and three others were injured, police said.
Upon arrival, police found the Tesla lodged about 15 feet into the northwest corner of the living room of the home, which is situated across from a right-hand turn lane of Folly Road, about 70 feet from the dry roadway, according to police.
In the affidavit, police said Folly Road intersects Bristol Road at a signalized T-intersection, where traffic must turn left or right off Folly Road.
Officers spoke to England, who allegedly told them he was driving northbound on Folly Road approaching Bristol Road, and attempted to turn right onto Bristol Road. He told police he was suddenly struck from behind, causing his Tesla to spin, police said.
England allegedly told police he had been at a concert earlier in the evening, where he had one beer.
According to the complaint, England was evaluated by medical personnel from Warrington Ambulance, declined medical transport, and was released at the scene to family at 11:33 p.m.
Police said England’s Tesla had no rear damage, indicating he was hit from behind or that another car was involved.
Investigators said there was no roadway evidence to prove that England attempted to turn, or spun out of control, or was even hit before crashing into the house.
A crash investigation revealed that England approached the traffic light at the T-intersection on Folly Road at Bristol Road, and failed to navigate any turn at all, police allege. The Tesla went straight through the intersection across Bristol Road, went airborne, landed in the front yard of 3099 Bristol Road, and continued into the house, according to the affidavit.
The homeowner told police she was in the center of her living room when debris suddenly scattered throughout her house, police said.
At 11:42 p.m., Doylestown Township Police learned that England was ill, had thrown up on the way home, and was later taken to Doylestown Hospital for medical treatment, arriving at 11:56 p.m. He was later transferred to Abington Memorial Hospital for emergency surgery for internal bleeding, police said.
Investigators said the Tesla was in good operating condition before the crash; a review of its Event Data Recorder revealed that the car was traveling at 67 mph and the brakes engaged one second before impact, police allege.
Police said England’s urine tested positive for presence of cannabinoids, including Delta-9 THC and marijuana metabolites.
Additional charges filed Friday by authorities include lesser moving violations of speeding, reckless driving, careless driving, damage to property, and possession of six vape pens and corresponding cartridges, police said.
England is free on $75,000 unsecured bail and has a preliminary hearing set for May 5 at 1:30 p.m. before Magisterial District Judge Mark D. Douple.
England's defense attorney Paul Lang was contacted for comment, but had not replied by publication time, and Central Bucks Now will update the article with any comments.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
