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[from NTPD Weekly Activity Summary 06-03 thru 06-09 2022]
While on routine patrol at approximately 10:45 pm, an officer observed a tire tread in the middle of the roadway in the northbound lane of Durham Road in the area of Five Points. The officer removed the tire tread to prevent a road hazard and further observed scrape marks continuing up the highway.
During this time, Bucks County Dispatch received the report of a speeding, reckless driver in the area of Durham Road and Pine Lane. Dispatch relayed that the vehicle was traveling with no front tire, had no lights on, and was creating a public safety issue amidst traffic.
As a result of the investigation, the officer conducted a traffic stop on the operator on Durham Road in the area of Buckingham Winery (Buckingham Township). Upon contact with the operator, the officer detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. The operator was unable to satisfactorily perform field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest by Newtown Township Police and Buckingham Township Police for suspicion of driving under the influence. Charges are pending blood evidence results.
Could it be possible that the tire was damaged hitting one of those potholes on Durham road that a resident recently complained about at the 8 June 2022 BOS meeting?
NOTE: Durham Rd is a STATE road maintained by PennDOT, NOT Newtown Township. To report any problem with state roads, please visit the PennDOT Customer Care Center.
The resident sent me the following in an email prior to the meeting:
"I'm sure you have noticed the bad and unsafe condition of Durham Rd from the Village to Stoopville Rd. The enormous amount of pot holes and actual crumbling of the pavement is in the worst condition ever. I was informed back in 2013 by State Senator Santarsiero and State Congressman Chuck McIlhinery that Durham Rd was on the list to be repaved within 3 years and it's still not done. At this unsafe point, we have to at least fix the pot holes and crumbling pavements before we have serious accidents. I know of two people who have had tire blowouts on Durham road."
These potholes are not only unsafe for drivers who hit them, but for other drivers when they may lead to incidents like the one in this report.
UPDATE (6/16/22): Newtown Twp PW Director, Joe Schiavoni, informed me that "PennDOT was actually filling potholes yesterday along Durham Rd corridor, so while the road still needs to be repaved in my opinion the potholes have been filled."