Limerick woman sent to prison for causing crash that killed township man
NORRISTOWN — A Limerick Township woman was sent to prison after she admitted to texting on her cellphone, running a red light and driving with marijuana in her system and recklessly causing a collision with another vehicle, killing the beloved 79-year-old patriarch of a local family and seriously injuring his wife.
Carly Marie Sasala, 27, of the unit block of North Township Line Road, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court on Friday to 15 to 36 months in the State Correctional Institution at Muncy after she pleaded guilty to charges of homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, reckless driving and driving under the influence of a controlled substance in connection with the March 24, 2023, crash at West Ridge Pike and Sunset Road in Limerick that claimed the life of Ronald Kratz, a passenger in a vehicle operated by his wife, Peggy, who was seriously injured.
By pleading guilty to the charges, Sasala admitted that she was operating a vehicle in a reckless or grossly negligent manner and caused the death of another person.
Judge Steven T. O’Neill, saying it was a “tragic, tragic situation,” imposed the sentence as part of a plea agreement, adding he trusted the judgment of the lawyers in the case in reaching the agreement.
By pleading guilty, Sasala, who according to court documents told police she was a “stoner” and “pothead,” avoided a possible conviction at trial of a charge of homicide by vehicle while DUI, which could have carried a mandatory three-year prison term.
During the hearing, grieving members of Kratz’s family tearfully spoke about their loss, describing the Vietnam War veteran and volunteer firefighter in Skippack and Schwenksville as a man with a “fun personality and smart intellect.”
“Ron had lots of life left. We were high school sweethearts and together for 62 years. My life is empty without my soulmate. 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 she misses “seeing Ron’s blue eyes sparkle as we shared our life’s journey, Ron’s gentle touch and love we shared.”
Peggy Kratz sustained seven broken ribs and internal injuries during the crash that required two surgeries. Ronald Kratz was transported by medical helicopter to a Philadelphia area hospital where he later succumbed to massive internal injuries. An autopsy determined Ronald Kratz died from blunt impact trauma of the torso.
“I was unconscious on impact. Ron was awake for a brief time. We did not get to comfort each other and say ‘I love you’ one more time,” said Peggy Kratz, her voice quivering with emotion.
Peggy Kratz said during the last year she has experienced many emotions, “anger, hate, pain, sadness, love” and has sobbed “uncontrollably, crying at the smallest memories,” adding the “aloneness even in a crowd of family and friends cannot be put into words.”
“My mind knows this woman did not go out that morning planning to hit us and kill my husband and terribly injure me. But she did know she was breaking the law, using marijuana, texting and making calls while driving and accelerating through a red light, hitting us,” Peggy Kratz told the judge.
“I pray this young lady finds her way in life to consider choices and consequences and be a good mom to her kids and be loved and supported by many, as I have. God bless her with strength to get through the consequences of her actions and move forward in life,” Peggy Kratz said.
Kratz’s granddaughter, Allison, said her “pop-pop” was “the example of what it meant to support your family, your community and your country.” She said Kratz “always encouraged each of us to be our very best.”
“Because of the defendant’s decisions on that day, we have been robbed of a central part of our family and many who knew him lost a forever friend,” Allison Kratz tearfully told the judge. “Her conscious decisions that day have left my family and myself with a pain that will never heal.”
Shelley Kratz, the victim’s daughter, said her father often said life is about choices and to “choose wisely.”
“The defendant did not choose wisely that day. While the choices she made may impact the next 15 to 36 months of her life, they will forever impact our lives,” Shelley Kratz said in a letter read in court.
Sasala, who was represented by defense lawyer 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 would like to apologize. I think about it every day. It’s really hard. I hope you guys know my heart is out for you and I apologize fully,” Sasala addressed Kratz’s family and friends.
The judge acknowledged that his sentence could not assuage the grief and sadness felt by the victim’s family.
“I’m sorry this happened to you. It seems like a close family and he was the classic example of a patriarch,” O’Neill addressed the Kratz family.
Deputy District Attorney Thomas W. McGoldrick said the state prison term for Sasala was significant.
“We’re not talking about the county jail, we’re talking about state prison and state prisons are no joke,” said McGoldrick, adding the sentence should send a message to others in the community. “I would hope that anyone who’s paying attention to this case would see that this kind of behavior has extreme consequences. The victim in this case was a great family man and he was killed as the family was getting ready to celebrate his 80th birthday and his wife suffered very serious injuries.”
The investigation began about 1:13 p.m. March 24 when Limerick police responded to the crash at West Ridge Pike and Sunset Road, according to a criminal complaint filed by Limerick Township Police Sergeant Matthew Daywalt.
Arriving officers found a Dodge Ram 2500 pickup truck, operated by Sasala, facing west in the eastbound lane of Ridge Pike, and a Buick Terrazzo, converted for wheelchair accessibility and occupied by driver Peggy Kratz and rear passenger Ronald Kratz, off of the northeast corner of the intersection, according to the arrest affidavit.
Sasala, traveling westbound on Ridge Pike, struck the Kratz vehicle as it entered Ridge Pike from southbound Sunset Road. The westbound traffic control signal on Ridge Pike had been red for about nine seconds before the collision occurred, police alleged. The Kratz vehicle had the right of way and Sasala ignored the red traffic signal.
“There was no indication of braking from the Dodge as it drove westbound on West Ridge Pike prior to impact,” Daywalt alleged.
The investigation also determined that prior to the collision Sasala, who worked at the nearby Sunshine Cafe, “was holding a cellphone” as she approached and exited the restaurant’s parking lot onto westbound Ridge Pike, according to court papers. Sasala participated in a text message exchange at 1:12 p.m. as she exited the parking lot and was “holding the cellphone to her ear,” just seconds before she collided with the victim’s vehicle, according to the criminal complaint.
Having worked at the restaurant for several years, police alleged Sasala had “familiarity with the road, placement of the traffic control signals and nature of the intersection,” Daywalt alleged.
When she was interviewed, Sasala told investigators that she was a “stoner” and “pothead,” according to the criminal complaint.
Sasala, according to court documents, told police that she was “worried because I’m a stoner and I smoke all the time” but that she wasn’t smoking at the time of the crash.
Toxicology tests subsequently determined that Sasala’s blood contained THC, the active ingredient of marijuana.
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