Pennsylvania Turnpike official charged with DUI after crashing into fence in Hershey
By CHRIS A. COUROGEN, The Patriot-News
April 21, 2010, 12:17PM
The chief operating officer of the Pennsylvania Turnpike is facing DUI charges after police in Derry Township said he had a blood alcohol level of 0.137 on April 5 when he spun out his car and crashed into a fence. According to court documents, George M. Hatalowich, 44, crashed into the fence owned by Hersheypark, then drove away northbound in the southbound lane of Park Avenue.
Police have charged Hatalowich with two counts of driving under the influence, careless driving, leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage and failing to remain in the proper lane.
Turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo said Hatalowich was not driving a Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission vehicle. He was driving his personal car on personal time. No disciplinary action has been taken, DeFebo said. Hatalowich continues to be assigned a turnpike-issued vehicle, which is by Turnpike Commission policy only to be used for business purposes. As to whether that car could be taken away, DeFebo said it “depends on the outcome of whatever the magistrate’s next steps are. That could change.”
In February, Timothy Carson, who was the vice chairman of the turnpike commission, resigned after admitting to having two driving while intoxicated convictions. Carson was driving a turnpike-issued vehicle in both those incidents, one in 2003 and the other in 2006.
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi said he was unaware of Hatalowich’s charges, adding, “Certainly people in leadership roles in the transportation industry have a greater responsibility by example, to show good judgment in their driving habits and certainly absolutely should never be putting themselves in a position where they are drinking and driving.”
Jan Murphy of The Patriot-News contributed to this report.
