By Charles W. Baum, Montgomery Newspapers (Pennsylvania)
While the injured Hilltown Township patrolman returned home the week before Thanksgiving, the suspected drunk driver that allegedly hit him is scheduled for appear in court next Monday.
Officer James Kane was released from Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital on Nov. 18, nearly three months after the Aug. 20 accident in Telford Borough in which he was critically injured by a suspected DUI driver.
While Kane, 54, is back with his family at his Hilltown home, he still must go back to the Bryn Mawr center for rehab each weekday for about five hours daily, according to Hilltown Police Chief Chris Engelhart.
“He’s continuing to make progress and is slowly moving forward,” Engelhart said Monday. “Everyone here is thrilled that he was able to get back home and that he is making advancement.”
Kane was backing up Telford Police Officer Daniel Fox on a suspected DUI stop, when a second alleged drunken driver came along and struck the two officers. Fox suffered minor injuries, while Kane had to be flown by helicopter to University of Pennsylvania Hospital for severe head and leg injuries. He was in a coma for several weeks.
The driver who struck the officers and attempted to flee was quickly apprehended 200 yards up the road after his damaged car broke down and he was found hiding behind a sign.
Daulton Aaron James, 20, of the 500 block of E. Broad Street, Quakertown, was charged in the incident and remains free on $200,000 bail.
James is scheduled to appear in Bucks County Court next Monday, Dec. 6 and enter a formal plea at that time.
“We don’t know if he will plead guilty and face sentencing, or whether there will be a need for a trial,” said Joseph Visco, Bucks County assistant district attorney who is handling the prosecution.
Lab analysis showed that James had a blood alcohol level of .19, more than twice the .08 percent limit for drivers of the legal drinking age, and significantly above the .02 percent for drivers under age 21. Telford Police said the state lab reports also showed there was marijuana present in his system and officers found the illegal drug in his car.
James faces a series of charges, including aggravated assault by vehicle, DUI, underage drinking, fleeing police, driving with a suspended or revoked license, reckless and careless driving, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, among others.