Montco Woman Waives DUI Hearing in Crash That Killed Teen Pedestrian
By Brad Segall
HATFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) -- A 31-year-old Lansdale woman is headed to trial in Montgomery County on charges related to a crash on Route 309 in Hatfield in late April that killed a teenager who was walking on the side of the road with some friends.
Sarah Derstein waived her preliminary hearing and was ordered held for trial on charges that include homicide by vehicle DUI, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment.
In exchange for the waiver, prosecutors agreed to withdraw two traffic summary offenses and reduce her bail by one dollar.
"The meat of the case here is with the felonies -- obviously the homicide by vehicle while DUI and the aggravated assault," says Montgomery County prosecutor Jordan Friter. "That's where this case really turns."
Prosecutors say Derstein had a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit and was texting someone about her marijuana supplier when she struck and killed 15-year-old Dennis Kee. Another teen was seriously injured (see previous story).
The judge agreed to lower her bail to just under $100,000 cash so she can be put in the general population at the county jail.
