Philly man arrested for drunk driving that killed Nala Bloom of Wyncote Farms will face trial

Shaikan Pitts, 37, of Philadelphia, was charged following a preliminary hearing with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol, accidents involving death or bodily injury without proper license, general impairment by driving under the influence of alcohol , brought to trial. Speeding and reckless and negligent driving in connection with the Nov. 25, 2023, crash on Old York Road that killed 33-year-old Laishah “Nala” Kendra Holloman Pottstown Mercury reported.

Holloman, 33, known to many as Nala Bloom of Wyncote Farms, was appointed manager of Wyncote Farm in January 2023 after joining as a volunteer in 2022. She was honored by The Philadelphia Inquirer March.

Cheltenham police arrived at Old York Road and Spring Avenue and found Holloman pinned underneath her white Ford van, according to a news release on behalf of the district attorney’s office. The on-scene crash investigation revealed the van was pulling out of a private driveway when it was struck by a silver Nissan Rogue driven by Pitts.

The villain hit the driver’s side door with such force that the van skidded and then overturned, officials said. Holloman was pronounced dead at the scene by Cheltenham Township EMS.

A conviction on the charge of vehicular manslaughter while driving while intoxicated can result in a mandatory prison sentence of three years mercury said. Authorities claimed Pitts had a blood alcohol content of 0.135%, which was above the legal limit of 0.08%.

“This is a case of speeding, at night, in the dark. There is no evidence that alcohol played a role. There is no connection with impairment. He was traveling too fast. His speed was so high that unfortunately it was an unavoidable accident. “Speed ​​was the only factor that caused the crash,” said defense attorney Paul Jared Mallis.

Pitts’ formal arraignment hearing in District Court is scheduled for June 26. After that hearing, a district judge will set a trial date. He remains in the county jail in lieu of $90,000 bail mercury said.

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Photo: Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office