Ocean Co. Woman Charged In DUI Crash That Left Firefighter Dead

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — A Little Egg Harbor woman has been charged with vehicular homicide in a crash on Saturday that struck three firefighters and a Pennsylvania State Trooper as they responded to an accident on Interstate 76, police said.

Jacquelyn Walker, 63, is facing vehicular homicide, DUI, involuntary manslaughter and other crimes in connection with the crash, court records show.

According to the Lower Merion Fire Department, Belmont Hills Fire Company Firefighter Thomas Royds died Saturday morning following an incident at mile marker 335 on Interstate 76 west.

Royds and fellow firefighters were called to the area at about 3:04 a.m. Saturday for an accident with injuries. Crews were getting ready to leave the scene at about 3:23 a.m., when a car struck Royds, two other firefighters and a Pennsylvania State Police trooper.

Royds went into cardiac arrest at the scene and was taken to Paoli Hospital, where he later died.

The other two injured firefighters were flown by PennSTAR and JeffSTAT medical helicopters to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center where they underwent surgery. Their conditions are unknown.

The state trooper was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center by ambulance.

Authorities are investigating the incident. Walker is being held after failing to post $500,000 bail, court documents show. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 5.

The Lower Merion Firefighter held a processional for Royds Sunday. Royds is the second Lower Merion Township firefighter to die this month while on duty. Firefighter Sean DeMuynck died after suffering injuries in a structure fire on the Fourth of July.

With reporting from Patch Correspondent Max Bennett