Driver in fatal Route 38 crash charged with DUI

A Maple Shade driver whose pickup truck went airborne after striking a median along Route 38 has been charged with killing his passenger and an oncoming motorist while driving under the influence of marijuana, authorities said yesterday.

Stephen R. Ford, 27, has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of assault by auto in the Aug. 9 deaths of Jean L. Bernard, 63, of Mansfield, and Danielle K. Howey, 22, of Maple Shade, the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office announced.

Ford was released after posting 10 percent of his $100,000 bail.

He was driving west on Route 38 in Mount Laurel about 2:30 p.m. when he accelerated to prevent a sedan in the lane to his right from merging ahead of him, authorities said.

Near the intersection with Midlantic Drive, he lost control, struck the median, and went airborne into oncoming traffic. His Chevrolet pickup truck struck two vehicles: a Toyota Highlander SUV and a white GMC box truck.

The impact killed Bernard, the driver of the Highlander. Howey, Ford's passenger, died later that day at Cooper University Hospital in Camden. The box-truck driver was injured, authorities said.

The accident shut down Route 38 for four hours.

A police investigation determined that Ford's vehicle had exceeded 80 miles per hour just before the crash and that he was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the collision, authorities said. The case is being referred to the county grand jury for possible indictment.

Ford's bail conditions forbid him from drinking alcohol, using controlled dangerous substances, and operating a motor vehicle.