A 29-year-old Upper Bucks County woman is facing vehicular homicide charges after allegedly causing a crash in January that killed two people and injured a pregnant woman.
Tori Lynn Gutshall of Quakertown also is charged with two counts of felony accidents involving death or injury while not licensed; two counts misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter; three counts misdemeanor reckless endangerment; and related offenses.
Gutshall was arraigned Wednesday before District Judge Lisa J. Gaier, who set bail at 10% of $200,000. In lieu of bail, she was taken to the Bucks County jail.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday and Pennsylvania State Police in Dublin announced the charges Thursday.
“Every driver has a tremendous responsibility while behind the wheel of what can be a deadly weapon,” Sunday said in a statement.
Philadelphia-based attorney Pantellis Palividas, representing Gutshall, called the incident a “tragic car accident” on Thursday afternoon.
“The charges reflect unintentional conduct,” Palividas told lehighvalleylive.com. “At issue is only whether the driving was reckless or negligent. There was no malice.”
State police in Dublin said the accident happened sometime on Jan. 31 along Route 663 (John Fries Highway) in Milford Township, Bucks County.
Gutshall was headed north, allegedly speeding and speaking on a cellphone in rainy and foggy weather conditions. Her vehicle then crossed into opposing traffic, striking another car head-on, prosecutors said.
Gutshall’s vehicle then struck a second vehicle, occupied by a pregnant woman.
A married couple in the first vehicle, 54-year-old Aaron Bisschop and 47-year-old Christie Bisschop of Pennsburg, Montgomery County, were pronounced dead at the scene. The pregnant woman was taken to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries, authorities said.
Christie Bisschop was a Lehigh County Community College graduate and worked at Mid Atlantic Retina in Lansdale as a head technician, her obituary states.
Aaron Bisschop, formerly of Illinois, worked as a buyer and planner for Hatfield, Montgomery County-based Brooks Instrument, his obituary states.
The couple were amusement park enthusiasts and enjoyed riding roller coasters, especially at Walt Disney World in Florida, according to their obituaries.
Gutshall is due back in court for a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled for Oct. 30 before District Judge Lisa J. Gaier. A judge will then determine if there’s sufficient evidence to send the case toward trial at the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas.
The case was referred to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office. It’s being prosecuted by state Deputy Attorney General Madelyn Abry.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.