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DUI Homicide Charges Filed In Chester County Crash That Killed Motorcyclist

By Brad Segall

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) -- Authorities in Chester County, Pa. have filed vehicular homicide DUI charges in connection with a deadly motorcycle accident last month in Westtown Township.

And it's not the first time the defendant has been drunk behind the wheel.

Court records show that Robert Landis has seven previous DUIs dating back to 1981 (see related story).

Police say the 49-year-old West Chester man had a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit and was driving with a suspended license when he crashed into a motorcycle on Wilmington Pike on April 26th, killing Liam Crowley.

"If you're going to get behind the wheel of a truck with a blood alcohol content of 0.28, that's the same thing as firing a 5,000-pound bullet into a crowd with your eyes shut -- that's outrageous behavior," said Chester County DA Tom Hogan today.

Inside the Dodge Ram pickup, police found numerous beer cans, empty and full, and two letters from Penndot addressing his suspended license and an application for an ignition interlock system which would be required for him to get his license back.

Landis appeared before a district magistrate this morning where bail was set at $1 million cash. He failed to post bail and was sent to the Chester County Prison.

His next court appearance is scheduled for May 14th.

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