John Wadlinger Gets decades In Prison For Fatal Bristol Crash
by Alex Lloyd Gross
John Wadlinger formerly from Bensalem will be a guest of the state for the next 26 years, nine months, to 56 years, 10 months. That is how much time in state prison, he will do for causing the crash in Feb. 2024 that killed Rebecca Whiddon, 33, and Richard Whiddon, 37, both of Brooklyn, Conn. The crash was at Ford Road and 413 in Bristol Township.
After the crash, he stole a dump truck and flipped it over in an attempt to flee the scene. A joint investigation by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, the Bristol Township Police Department, and the Plumstead Township Police Department, found that Wadlinger was under the influence of methamphetamine and amphetamine when he sped through a traffic intersection at a minimum of 73 mph, and crashed into a Nissan Sentra, occupied by the Whiddons and two friends.
The Whittdons were in the area to visit friends. In November Wadlinger plead guilty to 20 charges, including two counts of homicide by vehicle while DUI.
Police were out twice after the crash to do measurements and skid tests.