A Quakertown woman, distracted by a phone call, caused a crash that killed two people, injured a pregnant woman, police say

After causing a four-vehicle collision in Bucks County that killed two people and injured a pregnant woman, a Quakertown woman told a passerby that she needed to flee the scene so she wouldn’t get in trouble, investigators said Thursday.

Tori Gutshall, 29, has been charged with homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and related crimes in the Jan. 31 crash, which occurred on John Fries Highway in Milford Township.

She remained in custody in lieu of 10% of $200,000 bail. Her attorney, Ellis Palividas, did not return a request for comment.

The case is being prosecuted by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office recused itself from the case because one of the witnesses is related to a former staff member, a spokesperson said Thursday.

The crash occurred during rainy, fog-like weather that forced other motorists to drive slowly and cautiously, according to the affidavit of probable cause for Gutshall’s arrest. Witnesses said that despite these conditions, Gutshall was speeding northbound on John Fries Highway in a Ford Explorer, and suddenly veered into the opposite lanes, colliding with another Ford Explorer.

Both vehicles burst into flames, and two people inside the Explorer Gutshall crashed into were killed, authorities said.

Two other vehicles crashed into each other while trying to avoid the fiery, deadly collision. In one of those vehicles was a pregnant woman, who was taken to a private hospital with minor injuries, authorities said.

Police identified the deceased as Aaron and Christie Bisschop.

A witness who pulled Gutshall from her burning vehicle told police that her pupils were dilated and her movements were “spastic,” causing her to suspect that Gutshall was intoxicated.

Gutshall told the witness she needed to leave the scene before police arrived, according to the affidavit.

Gutshall’s blood was drawn at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, where she was taken after the crash, and tested positive for amphetamines, according to the affidavit. She does not face a DUI charge, however, because she has a valid prescription for Adderall.

A prescription pill bottle containing amphetamine salts belonging to Gutshall’s boyfriend was found inside the vehicle after the crash, according to the affidavit.

Gutshall’s mother arrived at the scene shortly before responding police officers, the affidavit said. She told them Gutshall had left her home shortly before the crash because they had gotten into an argument. The two were still arguing over the phone when the crash occurred.

She said her daughter was due in court the following Monday for a hearing in an unrelated DUI case. Court records show Gutshall attended a pretrial conference on that date in Montgomery County for a DUI charge from 2024.

Gutshall pleaded guilty in that case in September, and was sentenced to six months’ probation.