A Bensalem man was sentenced on Tuesday, Nov. 21, to state prison in two separate cases, including a fatal hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of a 65-year-old man in Bristol Township on Christmas Eve 2021.
Kevin Michael Baker Jr., 21, pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter for the crash that killed John Dugan after he fell as he crossed State Road in Bristol Township on his way to a Christmas party. Baker also pleaded guilty to dealing large quantities of marijuana from his Bensalem apartment.
In the negotiated sentence, Bucks County President Judge Wallace H. Bateman Jr. sentenced Baker to 2 ½ to 5 years in state prison on the involuntary manslaughter charge and time served to 23 months for one count of manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
The crash was investigated by Bristol Township Police Department, with assistance from the Bucks County 20th Investigating Grand Jury. The investigation found that Dugan, of Bristol Township, was killed at 5:09 p.m. Dec. 24, 2021, after he fell on the street and was run over by a truck driven by Baker.
Dugan’s fiancé told police they were crossing State Road when he fell on the road, likely because of a medical condition that caused his legs and feet to give out. The woman told police she tried to help Dugan up, but a truck “passed me real fast and hit John,” according to the Grand Jury presentment.
The offending vehicle was determined to be a red Chevrolet Silverado with black wheels, heading westbound on State Road toward Bensalem. After Bristol Township Police released information on the crash, they received a tip that led them to Baker. Police also received information that Baker had attempted to clean the driver’s side of the front bumper and repair a fog light that was damaged in the crash.
Baker turned himself in on April 25, 2022. While out on bail, he was arrested by Bensalem Township Police for a series of controlled illegal narcotics purchases, particularly marijuana and Delta-9 THC vape cartridges. The investigation found that Baker ran an illegal drug operation that he advertised through social media.
In total, the Bensalem Township Police Special Investigations Unit seized 6.7 pounds of marijuana, over 200 THC vape cartridges, numerous marijuana edibles, drug paraphernalia, and more than $120,000 in U.S. currency.
On Tuesday, relatives of Dugan and his fiancé appeared before Bateman and addressed the impact of his loss. “Christmas Eve will never be the same,” one of his daughters said, describing her father as a caring, hard-working, and fun-loving man. His daughter-in-law said the fun, enjoyment, and excitement of Christmas Eve is now replaced with sadness since Dugan’s death.
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