A Delaware County teacher is charged in a drunk driving crash that killed a 72-year-old Vietnam War veteran.
Meredith Williams-Earle, who teaches at the Interboro School District, was charged today with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence and recklessly endangering another person.
On August 6, police say that Earle was speeding and failed to stop for a posted stop sign at the intersection of Spring Mill Road and Morris Avenue in Bryn Mawr.
Investigators say she crashed into the driver's side of a flower shop van, being driven by Winston Staats.
Staats worked part-time as a deliveryman for Valley Forge Flower Company. Police say the van flipped over after it was hit and Staats was partially ejected. The war veteran died at the accident scene.
Earle's 2-year-old son was in the backseat of the car during the crash. Police say the car seat wasn't installed properly and was extremely loose.
Officers say Earle smelled like alcohol and noticed her eyes were glassy and speech was slurred. Inside her car, they say they found a blue plastic cup that smelled of alcohol.
She allegedly told officers that she drank leftover champagne that morning because she thought that alcohol would counteract the dizziness of an anti-anxiety drug she had taken.
"It's very difficult for everybody, including the victim's family. It's a bad time," said Joseph Hylan, Earle's attorney.
Earle is out on $100,000 unsecured bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for September 17.
Contact Lauren DiSanto at 610.668.5705, lauren.disanto@nbcuni.com or follow @LaurenNBC10 on Twitter.
