Motorist Killed Passenger And Injured Cop In Honey Brook: Police

HONEY BROOK, PA—A Honey Brook man is accused of hitting a woman and a police chief with his pickup truck early Sunday morning in Chester County, killing the woman and injuring the chief, state police said.

John L. Knecht Jr., 57, is in Chester County Prison without bail Monday on charges of homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault against a police officer, and involuntary manslaughter after being arraigned before District Judge Gregory Hines in Coatesville.
The district judge determined Knecht was a danger to society and a flight risk when denying bail.

According to state police at Embreville:
Knecht was pulled over by Honey Brook Police Chief Calvin Wilson, 64, around 1 a.m. Sunday on Horseshoe Pike, Honey Brook Township.

During the traffic stop, Wilson determined that Knecht has an active warrant for his arrest for probation violations from a prior drug arrest.

Wilson attempted to take Knecht into custody, but Knecht resisted. During the struggle, the chief was struck by Knecht’s vehicle. The chief was treated for minor injuries.

The passenger in Knecht’s truck, Brandie Beiseigel, 36, of Honey Brook, was thrown from the truck during Knecht's escape attempt. She was taken to Paoli Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Knecht was later found hiding in a crawl space in a home in Lower Alsace Township, Berks County.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the criminal investigation unit of Embreeville state police at 610-486-6280.