Limerick woman jailed for causing car crash that killed man

Montco Courthouse

NORRISTOWN – A Limerick Township woman was jailed after admitting to texting on her cellphone, running a red light, driving while under the influence of marijuana and recklessly causing a collision with another vehicle that killed the popular 79-year-old patriarch of a local family and seriously injured his wife.

Carly Marie Sasala, 27, of the North Township Line Road block, was sentenced Friday in Montgomery District Court to 15 to 36 months in the State Correctional Institution in Muncy after pleading guilty to charges of manslaughter with a vehicle, aggravated assault with a vehicle, reckless driving and driving under the influence of controlled substances in connection with the March 24, 2023, crash at the intersection of West Ridge Pike and Sunset Road in Limerick that killed and seriously injured Ronald Kratz, a passenger in a vehicle driven by his wife, Peggy.

By pleading guilty, Sasala admitted that she operated a vehicle recklessly or with gross negligence and caused the death of another person.

Judge Steven T. O’Neill described the situation as “tragic, tragic” and imposed the sentence as part of a plea bargain. He said he trusted the judgment of the lawyers involved in the plea bargain.

By pleading guilty, Sasala – who, according to court documents, had told police she was a “pothead” and a “hate-head” – avoided a possible conviction for intoxicated manslaughter, which could carry a three-year prison sentence.

During the hearing, grieving members of Kratz’s family spoke tearfully about their loss, describing the Vietnam War veteran and volunteer firefighter in Skippack and Schwenksville as a man with a “funny personality and bright mind.”

“Ron had a lot of life ahead of him. We were high school sweethearts and together for 62 years. My life is empty without my soul mate. I feel lost and am trying to heal and find God’s purpose for the time I have left. I miss Ron every day, every hour,” an emotional Peggy Kratz of Limerick addressed the judge, adding that she missed “seeing Ron’s blue eyes sparkle as we shared our life’s journey, Ron’s gentle touch and love that we shared.”

Peggy Kratz suffered seven broken ribs and internal injuries in the accident, which required two surgeries. Ronald Kratz was flown by rescue helicopter to a hospital near Philadelphia, where he later succumbed to his severe internal injuries. An autopsy revealed that Ronald Kratz died of blunt impact trauma to the upper body.

“I was unconscious on impact. Ron was awake for a short time. We didn’t get a chance to console each other and say ‘I love you’ one more time,” Peggy Kratz said, her voice shaking with excitement.

Peggy Kratz said she has experienced many emotions over the past year, “anger, hate, pain, sadness, love” and has “sobbed uncontrollably, cried at the smallest memories.” She added that the “feeling of loneliness, even in a crowd of family and friends, cannot be put into words.”

“My mind tells me that this woman did not set out that morning with the plan to run us over and kill my husband and seriously injure me. But she knew she was breaking the law, using marijuana, texting and talking on the phone while she was driving and sped through a red light and hit us,” Peggy Kratz told the judge.

“I pray that this young woman will find her way in life, weigh decisions and consequences, be a good mother to her children, and be loved and supported by many, as I am. God bless her with the strength to overcome the consequences of her actions and move on in life,” said Peggy Kratz.

Kratz’s granddaughter Allison said her “grandpa” was “the example of what it means to support your family, your community and your country.” She said Kratz “always encouraged each of us to do our best.”

“Because of the defendant’s decisions that day, a central part of our family was taken away from us and many who knew him have lost a friend for life,” Allison Kratz told the judge through tears. “Your conscious decisions that day have caused my family and me a pain that will never heal.”

Shelley Kratz, the victim’s daughter, said her father often said that life was about choices and to “choose wisely.”

“The defendant did not make a wise decision that day. While the decisions she made may affect the next 15 to 36 months of her life, they will affect our lives forever,” Shelley Kratz said in a letter read in court.

Sasala, represented by her defense attorney Thomas C. Egan III, appeared to wipe tears from her eyes as she listened to the collective voice of grief and anguish from the victim’s family.

“I want to apologize. I think about it every day. It’s really hard. I hope you know that I am so sorry and I sincerely apologize,” Sasala said to Kratz’s family and friends.

The judge acknowledged that his sentence could not ease the grief and sorrow of the victim’s family.

“I’m sorry this happened to you. It seems to be a close family and he was the classic example of a patriarch,” O’Neill said to the Kratz family.

Assistant District Attorney Thomas W. McGoldrick said Sasala’s prison sentence was significant.

“We’re not talking about county jail here, we’re talking about state prison, and state prisons are not to be trifled with,” McGoldrick said, adding that the verdict should send a message to others in the community. “I hope that everyone who follows this case realizes that this behavior has extreme consequences. The victim in this case was a great family man and was killed as the family was preparing to celebrate his 80th birthday, and his wife suffered very serious injuries.”

The investigation began around 1:13 p.m. on March 24 when Limerick police were called to the crash at the corner of West Ridge Pike and Sunset Road, according to a criminal complaint filed by Limerick Township Police Sergeant Matthew Daywalt.

When officers arrived, they found a Dodge Ram 2500 pickup truck, driven by Sasala, traveling westbound in the eastbound lane of Ridge Pike. At the northeast corner of the intersection was a wheelchair-accessible Buick Terrazzo with Peggy Kratz, the driver, and Ronald Kratz, the passenger, in the back seat, according to the affidavit.

Sasala, who was traveling westbound on Ridge Pike, collided with the scratch vehicle as it entered Ridge Pike southbound from Sunset Road. The westbound light on Ridge Pike was red for about nine seconds before the collision occurred, police said. The scratch vehicle had the right of way and Sasala ignored the red light.

“There was no indication that the Dodge had braked as it was traveling westbound on West Ridge Pike prior to impact,” Daywalt claimed.

The investigation also revealed that Sasala, who worked at the nearby Sunshine Cafe, was “holding a cell phone” prior to the collision as she approached the restaurant’s parking lot and exited westbound onto Ridge Pike, court records show. According to the criminal complaint, at 1:12 p.m., Sasala was engaged in a text message exchange as she exited the parking lot and “held the cell phone to her ear” just seconds before she collided with the victim’s vehicle.

Because Sasala had worked at the restaurant for several years, he was “familiar with the road, the layout of the traffic signals and the nature of the intersection,” Daywalt said, according to police.

During her questioning, Sasala told investigators that she was a “pothead” and a “hateful person,” the criminal complaint states.

According to court documents, Sasala told police she was “concerned because I’m a stoner and I smoke all the time,” but she was not smoking at the time of the accident.

Toxicological tests later revealed that Sasala’s blood contained THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.