A Bethlehem Area School District principal placed on leave two weeks ago has been charged with DUI after crashing into several cars in a shopping center parking lot late last month, authorities said.
Hanover Elementary School Principal Erin Hines, 46, of Bethlehem, on Friday was charged with DUI, highest rate of alcohol, and DUI general impairment — both misdemeanors — in the March 29 crash in the Valley Farm Market parking lot. Lab results came back Wednesday and showed her blood alcohol concentration was .32% ethanol — more than four times the legal limit — according to court records.
Bethlehem police Capt. Nicholas Lechman said the department responded at around 12:30 p.m. March 29 to the shopping center lot in the 1800 block of Stefko Boulevard, where they found a vehicle that appeared to have hit three parked vehicles. The driver, identified as Hines, was complaining of minor injuries, and was taken to the hospital for evaluation.
Her criminal complaint states the responding officer found Hines outside her car, which was damaged. Three other vehicles nearby were damaged as well.
Hines told the officer she was backing up and rear-ended a parked vehicle, court documents state. She said she “panicked” and drove forward into the side of a second parked vehicle, which in turn slid forward and hit a third vehicle, according to police.
Hines was unsteady on her feet, had glossy eyes and the odor of alcohol was coming from her breath when she spoke, charging documents state. She told the responding officer that she had a glass of wine earlier, police said.
She completed a field sobriety test, which showed “clues of impairment,” court documents allege. She also provided a breath test, which indicated the presence of ethanol, according to authorities.
She was taken to a nearby hospital, where she consented to a blood draw, charging documents state.
The Bethlehem Area School District announced March 31 that Hines was placed on leave for an incident that occurred off school grounds over the preceding weekend.
The district declined further comment Friday, and referred to its website. In , the district repeated that the incident happened off school grounds.
“Because this is an ongoing legal and personnel matter, it is unlawful for us to disclose details. The District is performing its own independent investigation and will update the school community to the extent it is legally able when findings are available,” the post reads in part.
Eric Fontanez is serving in the leadership role at the school until further notice, the district said.
“We will continue keeping the wellbeing and support of our students and staff at the forefront,” the district said
Hines has been issued a summons, and her preliminary hearing is scheduled for next month. She did not have an attorney listed for her Friday.
