– “Fatal hit-and-run accident Reading”
– “Woman killed, police chief injured in hit-and-run incident Reading”.
By Trend News Line 2024-02-12 20:33:44.
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Tragedy Strikes as Woman Killed in Hit-and-Run Incident
A Berks County man has pleaded guilty to charges connected with a fatal hit-and-run incident that left a woman dead and a local police chief injured. John Lewis Knecht Jr., 58, of Reading, entered a plea to felony charges including accidents involving death, aggravated assault against police, involuntary manslaughter, resisting arrest, and escape. He was sentenced to 9½ to 20 years in state prison.
The incident occurred during a routine traffic stop in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Brandie Marie Beiseigel, 36, of Honey Brook, was tragically killed when she attempted to leap from Knecht’s pickup truck as he fled the scene. Beiseigel, a devoted Philadelphia Eagles fan, was a longtime employee of Jerry’s Pizza Pie and a graduate of Great Valley High School. Her family attended the court proceeding and spoke on her behalf in victim impact statements.
Following the incident, state police arrested Knecht at his home, where he was found hiding in an attic crawl space. The borough’s police chief, Calvin Wilson, was also injured when he was run over by Knecht’s pickup truck as he fled. Knecht had an active warrant for his arrest on probation violations at the time of the encounter.
According to an arrest affidavit, Wilson initiated the traffic stop after suspecting criminal activity. Knecht, who had spotted Wilson’s patrol vehicle, planned to flee due to his active warrant. When Wilson approached the truck, Knecht attempted to escape and dragged Wilson along as he drove away. It was during this escape that Beiseigel tragically lost her life.
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State troopers responded to the scene and began searching for Knecht. After a thorough investigation, they located him hiding in an attic crawlspace at a residence in Berks County. Knecht was taken into custody after a brief struggle.
In his interview with investigators, Knecht confirmed many of the details provided by Wilson. However, he claimed that he had told Beiseigel about his plan to flee and believed she had exited the truck before he sped away. Video evidence from Wilson’s patrol car contradicted Knecht’s statement, showing Beiseigel being run over by the fleeing truck.
This tragic incident has left the community in mourning and serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers and innocent bystanders. Our thoughts go out to Brandie Marie Beiseigel’s family and friends during this difficult time.
To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan, call 610-696-1544.
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1. “Reading man pleads guilty fatal accident woman Honey Brook police chief injured”
2. “Guilty plea: Reading man runs over woman, injures Honey Brook police chief”.
