Man Charged With DUI After Fatal Motorcycle Crash

UPPER DARBY – On Friday night, a fatal collision took place between a vehicle and a motorcycle at the intersection of Coverly and Marshall roads, which resulted in the death of a Lansdowne man.
47-year-old Gregory Hayes was pronounced dead at the accident scene at 11:12 p.m. He was of the 200 block of Braddock Road. Hayes is a Philadelphia School District police officer who was on his way to work the midnight shift. He was riding a motorcycle to work.

The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Salome A. Seay, of the 200 block of Coverly Road, in the Lansdowne post office section of Upper Darby was driving the vehicle that struck Hayes. He was arrested and charged with DUI and homicide by vehicle DUI related.

According to police Superintendent Michael Chitwood, “This is a tragedy that should never have happened.” It was later found out that Hayes was married and a father of two very young kids. He was wearing a helmet when the accident happened and had the right of way and did everything right.

“It looks like the defendant was trying to drag race with another motorist and when the light turned green he took off at a high rate of speed and just turned right in front of the guy on motorcycle. It’s just a tragedy,” said Chitwood.

Two witnesses present at the scene reported seeing the man driving a red Silverado pickup truck at an estimated speed of 65 to 75 mph before he cut off the motorcyclist.

Hayes was riding a Suzuki motorcycle and was traveling the eastbound direction on Marshall Road when Seay allegedly made a left turn which caused his motorcycle to broadside the passenger side of the truck.
When officers arrived at the scene, they detected an odor of alcohol on the driver. They took a BAC test and also a field sobriety test.

According to Chitwood, “He flunked every field test, the PBT (portable breath test) and field test and was taken to the hospital for blood testing.”

Seay was taken into custody and was arraigned on charges of DUI, homicide by vehicle,homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault while DUI, careless driving, improper left turn and reckless driving.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 16 before Magisterial District Judge Christopher Mattox. He was held in lieu of posting 10 percent of $100,000 bail pending his hearing.

News Source: www.DelcoTimes.com