Reading, PA — Five people were hospitalized following an alleged drunk driving accident in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, February 28, 2015. The accident took place on the Warren Street Bypass, near Schuykill Avenue.
Police have identified 32-year old Ernest Sarao as the man responsible for the accident. Police say that he was traveling along the Bypass when he rear-ended another vehicle. After the crash, he sped away, but crashed into a second vehicle. At this point, Sarao’s vehicle couldn’t be driven, so he got out and fled the scene on foot.
Police found him and took him into custody a short time later.
A mother and her three children from the second vehicle hit, as well as a woman inside Sarao’s vehicle, were all injured in the accidents and had to be taken to the hospital. The extent of their injuries was not clear.
The woman inside Sarao’s vehicle told police that they were drinking at a bar in Muhlenberg Township. The accident is still being investigated.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary
It’s interesting to note that news sources say that the man responsible for this accident was drinking at a bar before the crash took place. The reason this is important is because Pennsylvania law says that establishments that serve alcohol aren’t allowed to serve customers who are obviously intoxicated. I don’t know about you, but I imagine whoever was responsible for an accident like this would have had to have been pretty obviously drunk.
If a bar chooses to continue serving a customer who should have been cut off, and that person goes out and gets into an accident, the bar can be held liable for it. The reason these types of laws are set is to held prevent accidents like this. If a bar chooses to instead play an active role in bringing the accident about, they need to be held accountable for it, and not be allowed to open their doors the next day as if nothing’s happened.
— Grossman Law Offices