Alleged Impaired Driver Had No License Or Insurance in Fatal Cheltenham Crash
by Alex Lloyd Gross
Cedric Galette should have never been driving. Yet he was. Now he will be spending substantial jail time should he be found guilty of what he is accused of. He was involved in a fatal crash at 5th and Cheltenham Ave. on September 18, 2024. It was about 10:00 PM. The investigation revealed that Galette’s vehicle registration was suspended, and he had no insurance coverage.Toxicology testing on Galette’s blood found the presence of Phencyclidine,known more commonly as PCP. Inside Galette’s vehicle multiple glass jars filled with a wet, leafy substance containing suspected Phencyclidine were recovered.
A 2007 silver Cadillac CTS, driven by Galette, and a 2022 black Cadillac SUV, driven by Troy Rivera. Rivera was extricated from his vehicle and transported to Jefferson-Abington Hospital, where he died 10 days later. Galette was removed from his vehicle by medical personnel and transported to Jefferson Einstein with serious injuries.
A crash investigation by Cheltenham Township Police and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau found that Galette was driving his silver Cadillac northbound on 5th Street at more than 60 mph in an area with a posted speed limit of 30 mph. The defendant drove with his headlights off through a red light when his vehicle struck Rivera’s black Cadillac SUV, which was traveling westbound on Cheltenham Avenue. Rivera was legally driving through the intersection during a steady green light. The impact of the crash pushed Rivera’s vehicle into the traffic light pole and utility pole, causing his death.
Galette was arrested on Oct. 29, 2024, on charges of Homicide by Vehicle–DUI, Homicide by Vehicle, Driving Under the Influence, Reckless Driving and charges related to an unregistered vehicle, as well as other summary offenses. He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Douglas H. Lavenberg, who set bail at $50,000cash, with a condition of no driving. A bail review hearing was held on Oct. 30, 2024,
before Court of Common Pleas Judge Wendy Rothstein, who declined to change the bail amount. Galette was unable to post bail and was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m., Nov. 4, 2024, before Magisterial District Judge Emmett Madden.