Township Man Allegedly Fled DUI Checkpoint, Crashed Car

A Lower Saucon Township man is facing a host of summary, misdemeanor and felony charges after allegedly fleeing a DUI checkpoint, crashing into a telephone pole and leading police on a brief chase along local roads July 22.

According to a police department press release, Thomas Carpency, 27, of the 3500 block of Drifting Drive, was operating a vehicle while under the influence of a mixture of drugs including cocaine when he entered a DUI checkpoint on Applebutter Road at approximately 10:37pm.

Carpency then reversed his vehicle "at a high rate of speed," crashed into a telephone police and led police on a brief chase, during which he turned off his lights, police said.

According to police, the chase began on Applebutter Road, continued onto Ringhoffer and Sherry Hill roads, and ended on Shady Lane, which is a dead end street.

Carpency was then taken into custody and police said it was observed that "the trunk of the car (he was driving) was literally in the back seat."

A passenger in Carpency's vehicle suffered a "serious head wound" as a result of the accident involving the telephone pole, they added.

Blood work confirmed the presence of drugs in Carpency's system at the time of the accident, a warrant for his arrest was eventually issued and he was ultimately committed to Northampton County Prison under $50,000 straight bail, police said.

Carpency is currently facing "approximately 18 different charges," they added.