Driver Held for Trial In 202 Motorcycle Crash

Robert Elwood Landis, 49, has been ordered to stand related to a two vehicle accident that prosecutors say claimed the life of Liam Crowley of Chesterbrook, Tredyffrin Township.

his motorcycle slammed into a pick-up truck in the northbound lanes of Wilmington Pike/Route 202 and East Stanton Road in Westtown Township.

Prosecutors said Landis, of West Chester, was drunk and driving on a suspended and expired license, when he turned left to cross northbound 202 from the southbound lanes onto Stanton Avenue.  Westtown/East Goshen Regional Police accident reconstruction investigator Ted Lewis testified Tuesday that Landis turned straight into the path of the blue Triumph motorcyle that Liam Crowley was riding.

Liam Crowley's girlfriend and his father were among those in the courtroom to watch the hearing.

During occasionally graphic testimony about the details of the accident, Westtown/East Goshen Regional police officer Robert Kinch testified that he was the first officer on the scene. He said he arrived to find the motorcycle and Liam Crowley lying in the northbound lanes of the highway. Kinch testified that Landis failed three sobriety field tests and that blood tests later showed Landis had a blood alcohol content of .283 percent, according to a toxicology report.

Police said the accident was reported at 10:28 p.m. on Friday April 26. Crowley was rushed to Paoli Hospital, where he died two days later at 7:46 p.m. on Sunday April 28.

Landis, who has an extensive history of DUI convictions, said nothing during the preliminary hearing which lasted about 45 minutes in Magisterial District Court 15-02-03 which is located inside the Chester County Services Building.

After hearing the testimony, District Judge William Kraut ruled that there is enough evidence in the case to hold Landis over for trial on all counts against him. Landis, who has at least five DUI convictions on his record, is being held on $1 million cash bail in the Chester County Prison.

Following the hearing, Landis was taken back to prison in shackles. No one from the Crowley family spoke to reporters outside the courtroom. Last Thursday, Liam Crowley's mother made an emotional statement after Landis was arraigned on the charges.

Prosecutors told Patch that the case is not expected to come to trial for at least six to eight months.