A Quakertown resident has pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide in a tragic incident that resulted in the death of a woman from Hatfield Township in May 2023. Meanwhile, his companion and co-defendant has opted for a jury trial.
The Pottstown Mercury reported that Aidan Thomas Jarrett, 20, from Quakertown, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Common Pleas court. He is facing a sentence of 7 to 14 years in prison for felony homicide by vehicle and felony aggravated assault by vehicle.
Jarrett was driving at a dangerously high speed on Bethlehem Pike/Route 309 when his red 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer crashed into a silver 2015 Nissan Frontier at the Bergey Road intersection. Authorities claim that he was racing with co-defendant Evan Robert Buckman at the time of the collision.
Ida Lillo, 62, from Hatfield, tragically lost her life as a passenger in the Frontier accident. Louis Lillo III, the husband, sustained serious injuries but managed to survive the crash.
Jarrett is currently out on $50,000 unsecured bail until sentencing, as stated in court documents. His defense attorney was Gregory Francis Mitsch.
According to the report, Buckman, who is facing charges of homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, reckless endangerment, illegal racing, speeding, and reckless driving, is scheduled to go on trial on September 24th.
In May, both men pleaded not guilty during their arraignment. Buckman has been released on $50,000 unsecured bail.
According to investigators, the collision happened as Lillo was making a left turn onto Bergey Road from Bethlehem Pike and was hit by Jarrett, who was driving at a high speed. (Note: The crash happened before the option to make a left turn onto Bergey Road from Bethlehem Pike was removed.)
According to the police, there was a third vehicle involved in the incident. It was a yellow Nissan 350z driven by Buckman, who was seen speeding through the intersection just moments after the crash. The vehicle eventually came to a stop at the scene.
According to the criminal complaint, the driver and passenger were seriously injured when the Nissan flipped on its side and traveled through the intersection due to the force of the crash. Both individuals were taken to Grand View Hospital, and unfortunately, Lillo passed away shortly after.
While at the location, Jarrett informed the authorities that he was exceeding the speed limit. When questioned about his estimated speed, he casually responded, “Uhh, quite fast.” Approximately one hundred, as reported by the police.
Based on witness accounts, interviews with Jarrett and Buckman, and surveillance footage from the area, investigators concluded that Jarrett and Buckman were engaged in high-speed racing in the southbound lanes before the crash occurred.
According to charging documents, data from the Airbag Control Module in the Mitsubishi indicated that the vehicle was traveling at 110.6 miles-per-hour during the crash. Additionally, an analysis of video surveillance revealed that Buckman was traveling at 95 miles-per-hour.