March 7, 2000 

MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO DEATH BY AUTO CHARGES 

      TRENTON – A Titusville man pleaded guilty to death by auto charges today in the 1999 death of a bicyclist whom he struck head-on with his car, Mercer County Prosecutor Daniel G. Giaquinto announced.

      The driver, William H. Oderwald, 49, had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit at the time of the May 21, 1999, accident that claimed the life of Bambe Cross, 32, of Hopewell Borough, Giaquinto said.

        Oderwald appeared before Superior Court Judge Charles A. Delehey today and pleaded guilty to the second-degree offense. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Oderwald, who has no prior record, faces a maximum eight years in prison, required to spend 85 percent of that term in jail without parole under the No Early Release Act, Giaquinto said. Delehey is scheduled to sentence Oderwald on April 14.

      The accident happened about 4:30 p.m. on Route 645 in Hopewell Township. Oderwald was traveling eastbound while the victim was riding westbound on the shoulder of the road.

      Driving under the influence of alcohol and other motor vehicle offenses will be dismissed as part of the plea agreement when Oderwald is sentenced.

      Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Kathryn Flicker, who prosecuted Oderwald, told Delehey in court that the defendant’s blood alcohol level was between .12  and .13. Police had initially charged Oderwald with aggravated manslaughter, but that charge could not be sustained at trial, Flicker told the judge.

      Had Oderwald been tried and convicted of the death by auto charge, he could have received a maximum 10-year term.

      In pleading guilty, Oderwald admitted striking the victim with his car and having been legally intoxicated at the time of the accident. Oderwald said he does not remember veering into the oncoming lane, but Flicker said that there were two off-duty law enforcement officers traveling on the road who described the defendant as weaving severely in and out of his lane. Just prior to the accident, one of the officers had placed a call to police from his car phone to report Oderwald’s erratic driving, Flicker said.