A homicide, an industrial accident and two car crashes resulted in five deaths in Bucks County over the Columbus Day/Indigenous People’s Day holiday weekend, according to Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck.
“On Saturday, Oct. 7, there were two fatal motor vehicle accidents and a homicide here in Bucks County,” reported Buck. The fatal industrial accident occurred on Monday, Oct. 9, she said.
Richard MacFarland, 72, was found dead in his home in Wrightstown Township on Oct. 7. Buck reported his cause of death as multiple stab and slash wounds.
“His manner of death is determined to be homicide and this case remains under investigation by Newtown Township Police Department and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office,” she said.
Newtown Township Police Captain Jason Harris said, “There’s no threat to the community.”
He said the investigation is currently “very active,” and more information would be coming from the DA’s office. A DA’s office spokesman said much the same and added, “We will provide more information when it becomes available.”
The first accident Saturday occurred on Old Easton Road in Nockamixon, killing Tjerk J. Post, 55, of Montgomery County, the driver of one of the vehicles. He was transported to Grand View Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Buck confirmed his cause of death as multiple injuries and determined his manner of death to be accidental.
The driver and passenger of the second vehicle in that crash were transported to an out-of-county hospital where they were expected to survive, Buck said.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation by Pennsylvania State Police.
The second fatal motor vehicle accident that occurred on the evening of Oct. 7, was on Ridge Road in Sellersville. Passenger John Christian, 71, of Montgomery County, was pronounced at the accident scene.
His wife, Christine Christian, 70, was rushed to Grand View Hospital where she died the next day, Oct. 8, as a result of the accident. Their cause of death is multiple injuries with their manner of death determined to be accidental, Buck said.
On Monday, Oct. 9, Oscar C. Martinez Bravo, 52, of Trenton, N.J., died from multiple injuries he sustained in an industrial accident at his workplace in Falls Township. While his manner of death is accidental, the incident remains under investigation.
Bravo was reportedly killed when a front-end loader accidentally drove over him at Mazza Steel in the Keystone Trade Center.
“Our office extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of all who traumatically lost their lives during this most difficult and tragic time,” Buck said.
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