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Man Turns Truck Into Murder Weapon

Updated 6:07 PM EDT, Mon, Dec 1, 2008

Related Topics: Bensalem

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A driver is accused of killing a person by pinning the victim between a truck and a building.
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A driver is accused of killing a person by pinning the victim between a truck and a building.

 

Update from Bucks County Courier Times:

Drunk, Unlicensed Driver Crushes Man Against Wall

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A drunk man who did not have a driver's license crushed a bar employee with his pickup truck minutes after he was ejected from the bar.

After being refused drinks and escorted out of a Bensalem bar Saturday night, a 35-year-old illegal immigrant slammed a pickup truck into one of the bar's employees, pinning the employee against the building and killing him.

Jose Esteban Maldonado-Luzuriaga, an Ecuador native who authorities say has lived in the United States for five or six years, now faces homicide and related charges.

Dressed in baby blue prison garb, handcuffed and locked in leg shackles, Maldonado-Luzuriaga was arraigned at 8 a.m. Sunday and sent to Bucks County prison in lieu of $3 million bail for allegedly killing 30-year-old William Sullo III, of the Parkwood section of Philadelphia, who worked as a take-out clerk at Salute Restaurant Bar at 2564 Knights Road.

Police said Maldonado-Luzuriaga was already intoxicated when he entered Salute Saturday night and was refused service; instead, a bartender gave him a glass of water.

 


A man was killed when a man driving a white pickup truck pinned the victim between the truck and a building, the Salute Bar and Restaurant in Bensalem, at about 10:20 p.m. Saturday night.

The victim, 30-year-old William Soullo, was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead. The driver, Jose Maldonado-Luzuriaga, suffered minor injuries.

Maldonado-Luzuriaga became disorderly in the bar and was escorted out, authorities said. He drove his truck around the parking lot several times, stopped facing the building and then accelerated toward two employees, striking Solo and pinning him against the door, authorities said.

"He got in that truck, drove around, thought about what he was doing, stopped right in front of the establishment, saw two people standing in front and then gunned the engines and drove right into them," said Bucks County First District Attorney David Zellis.

Maldonado-Luzuriaga was arraigned at 8 a.m. Sunday. He is charged with criminal homicide, criminal attempted homicide, accident without being licensed and criminally endangering other person. He has been living in the country illegally for six years, police said, and is facing 20 to 40 years in prison.

Comments (26)

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  • samantha bee~bensalem pa Saturday, Mar 7 at 3:50 AM FLAG COMMENT i knew billy sullo and i can't even imagine months later why?? someone would ever do this. billy was a happy go lucky guy, i think about him everyday and feel for his family... you are missed so much billy...:(
  • Anonymous Saturday, Feb 21 at 1:44 AM FLAG COMMENT Also on the Bensalem, PA topic. They have a ton of Landscaping gigs, However everyone of these landscaping companies will only hire illegals. Not one single American working a landscaping gig in Bensalem or the surrounding counties. 10 bucks or more and hour is really attractive to my unemployed friends but they have all been turned down for work. These guys rather hire people that send money back to their countries then hire ... MORE >
  • Bob Saturday, Feb 21 at 1:43 AM FLAG COMMENT Bensalem, PA is a breeding ground for illegals. Bucks Meadows apartment complex is 95% illegal residents (no exaggeration). And Unifirst corporation in Croyden, PA hires 80% of its warehouse staff from Bucks Meadows in Bensalem. Immigration enforcement is a joke it has been like this for years. I work at Unifirst as well as dated an Illegal from Bucks Meadows. She lives in a house with 8 other illegals. All of which ha ... MORE >
  • whitemaninusa Tuesday, Dec 2 at 4:59 PM FLAG COMMENT its not the goverment that we the people voted in its we the people that have pitty on all those less off than some one else well FO i get up 5am and have been for the last 20 yrs get home at 7pm and this is 6 days a week i work for myself and have nice things for my family I EARN IT SO PASS THAT ON TO WELFARE AND ALL THE CRYING HEART LIBERALS that want to save everyone save your self and your country freedom isnt free we figh ... MORE >
  • Rosemary Monday, Dec 1 at 7:04 PM FLAG COMMENT My condolences go out to the Soullo family. They should fry the creep who did this to my co-workers son . I am very upset that people can think they can harm people this way.A young life was taken away , why he worked his shift and for what , a drunken illegal idiot who should not be in the United States at all..This creep (which I can call him worseshould get alot more time then what hes getting , The Basterd

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