Delco assistant District Attorney charged in hit and run that left Havertown teen with brain bleed

By Giovanni S. Balthazar

STAFF WRITER

UPPER DARBY - On Nov. 4, Delaware County Assistant District Attorney Michael Donohue did what many people do on a Friday afternoon after a long work week. He went to a local bar and allegedly had some drinks, until about 9 p.m. At about 10:20 p.m., Upper Darby police responded to a hit and run accident on Township Line Road and Bryan Street in Drexel Hill. When police arrived, a 14 year-old boy from Havertown was lying unconscious in the street, and the driver that struck the victim had already fled the scene.

Police say that according to witnesses, Donohue left the bar and got in his Jeep Cherokee. He allegedly made a few stops, one at a local pizza shop and then at McDonalds to get more food. Donohue then made a few more stops at firehouses in Havertown and Upper Darby, but then something went horribly wrong.

The day after the accident, four friends of the victim stated that they were walking with him when he crossed the street and was struck by a dark Jeep Cherokee. Witnesses say the driver, who was wearing a red top and khaki pants, stopped briefly to check his car for damage before speeding off the wrong way down Agnew Drive.

Two days after the hit and run, on Nov. 6, police say a sixth witness called saying he was on the phone with Donohue at the same time as the boy was struck, and that he heard Donohue utter an expletive and then get out of his car. A total of 12 witnesses spoke with investigators, some saying they saw Donohue at a Media bar from 4:30 p.m. until after 9 p.m. drinking beer. The local pizza shop surveillance tapes revealed that Michael Donohue, 31, from Havertown, was at the pizza shop at about 9:20 p.m. and had on a red coat and khaki pants.

When police went to Donohue’s house in Philadelphia on Nov. 7, a dark grey Cherokee with damage to the front driver’s side was parked in the garage. Police towed it back to headquarters with Donohue’s permission and obtained a search warrant. Debris from the scene of the crash fit perfectly with the damage to the Jeep’s headlight, according to the affidavit of probable cause prepared by Upper Darby investigator George Rhoades.

Donohue now faces charges of aggravated and simple assault, careless driving, reckless driving, accidents involving death or personal injury and duty to render aid and give information offenses.

“It’s like committing a crime with a gun or a knife,” said Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood, who adds that a car can be a deadly weapon.

The 14-year-old boy is at home recuperating. He suffered a slight brain bleed, two fractures on his hip and numerous body lacerations. Continued...

Donohue has since resigned from the District Attorney’s office and will be prosecuted by the State’s Attorney General’s office.

“He’s not going to be treated any different than anybody else,” said Chitwood. “It’s a heinous and unconscionable crime.”

As of now, the case is still being investigated and prosecutors might not ever know what Donohue’s blood alcohol level was that night, but according to Chitwood the end result is tragic.

“The bottom line is if you drink to the point you are intoxicated,“ he said, “don’t drive.”

Donohue is free on 10 percent of $25,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 22 before Magisterial District Judge Michael Cullen.

By Giovanni S. Balthazar

STAFF WRITER

UPPER DARBY - On Nov. 4, Delaware County Assistant District Attorney Michael Donohue did what many people do on a Friday afternoon after a long work week. He went to a local bar and allegedly had some drinks, until about 9 p.m. At about 10:20 p.m., Upper Darby police responded to a hit and run accident on Township Line Road and Bryan Street in Drexel Hill. When police arrived, a 14 year-old boy from Havertown was lying unconscious in the street, and the driver that struck the victim had already fled the scene.

Police say that according to witnesses, Donohue left the bar and got in his Jeep Cherokee. He allegedly made a few stops, one at a local pizza shop and then at McDonalds to get more food. Donohue then made a few more stops at firehouses in Havertown and Upper Darby, but then something went horribly wrong.

The day after the accident, four friends of the victim stated that they were walking with him when he crossed the street and was struck by a dark Jeep Cherokee. Witnesses say the driver, who was wearing a red top and khaki pants, stopped briefly to check his car for damage before speeding off the wrong way down Agnew Drive.

Two days after the hit and run, on Nov. 6, police say a sixth witness called saying he was on the phone with Donohue at the same time as the boy was struck, and that he heard Donohue utter an expletive and then get out of his car. A total of 12 witnesses spoke with investigators, some saying they saw Donohue at a Media bar from 4:30 p.m. until after 9 p.m. drinking beer. The local pizza shop surveillance tapes revealed that Michael Donohue, 31, from Havertown, was at the pizza shop at about 9:20 p.m. and had on a red coat and khaki pants.

When police went to Donohue’s house in Philadelphia on Nov. 7, a dark grey Cherokee with damage to the front driver’s side was parked in the garage. Police towed it back to headquarters with Donohue’s permission and obtained a search warrant. Debris from the scene of the crash fit perfectly with the damage to the Jeep’s headlight, according to the affidavit of probable cause prepared by Upper Darby investigator George Rhoades.

Donohue now faces charges of aggravated and simple assault, careless driving, reckless driving, accidents involving death or personal injury and duty to render aid and give information offenses.

“It’s like committing a crime with a gun or a knife,” said Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood, who adds that a car can be a deadly weapon.

The 14-year-old boy is at home recuperating. He suffered a slight brain bleed, two fractures on his hip and numerous body lacerations.

Donohue has since resigned from the District Attorney’s office and will be prosecuted by the State’s Attorney General’s office.

“He’s not going to be treated any different than anybody else,” said Chitwood. “It’s a heinous and unconscionable crime.”

As of now, the case is still being investigated and prosecutors might not ever know what Donohue’s blood alcohol level was that night, but according to Chitwood the end result is tragic.

“The bottom line is if you drink to the point you are intoxicated,“ he said, “don’t drive.”

Donohue is free on 10 percent of $25,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 22 before Magisterial District Judge Michael Cullen.