Towamencin Hit-and-Run Driver Sentenced to Minimum 15 Days

A Hatfield hit-and-run driver, and eight-time repeat traffic offender, is nearly done completing his minimum prison sentence for hitting and critically-injuring a pedestrian in Towamencin in March 2011.

According to Peg Gibbons of PhillyBurbs, Mukesh K. Shah, 56, of the 100 block of West Vine Street, was sentenced Thursday to 15 days to 23 months in Montgomery County Prison. Shah must also complete one-year probation following parole, pay $250 in fines and perform 100 hours of community service.

He pleaded guilty in May 2012 to misdemeanor lying to police, misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person, misdemeanor tampering with evidence, failure to stop and render aid, and failure to notify police of an accident, according to the article.

Shah, who worked at that time as a dishwasher at Hennings in Lower Salford, got off on a felony charge of accidents involving death or injury, according to court records. The prosecution did not pursue conviction on that charge.

Shah spent five days in county lockup after his March 2011 arrest, meaning he has 10 days remaining on his minimum prison sentence, according to the article.

Shah will serve the remaining 10 days on five consecutive weekends, beginning Nov. 2, according to the article.

Shah hit Esther Lee, 36, on March 23, 2011 on Forty Foot Road near Towamencin Avenue.

Lee was walking in the southbound lanes of Forty Foot Road, when she was hit by Shah’s Plymouth Voyager van, which was south on Forty Foot Road, according to the article.

The collision knocked off one of Lee’s sneakers. She was taken to Abington Hospital in critical condition.

Lee was bleeding from a head injury when police arrived, according to the article.

Police said Shah did not apply his brakes before or after hitting Lee, according to the article.

Several witnesses saw Shah hit Lee, and one followed Shah and took down his license plate number, according to the article.

Shah denied involvement in the accident, telling people he saw two police cars “near a child’s toy” on Forty Foot Road, according to the article. He told police he damaged his car by striking a tree at his church. Shah’s wife told police that he hit a deer, according to the article.

Shah has had eight other traffic violations filed against him since 2000, according to documents filed on the Magisterial District Judge Docket Sheet website.

In January 2000, Shah pleaded guilty to a charge of accidents involving damage to an unattended vehicle or property for an incident in Hatfield Township.

In August 2000, Shah pleaded guilty to disregarding a traffic control device in Lansdale.

He pleaded guilty to disregarding a traffic control device again in Lansdale in January 2001.

He pleaded guilty a second time in January 2001 for failure to perform driver duties at a stop sign in Hatfield Township.

In October 2007, Shah pleaded guilty for disregarding a traffic control device in Hatfield Township.

A year later, in March 2008, Shah pleaded guilty to disregarding a traffic control device in Lower Salford Township.

In December 2010, Shah pleaded guility to failing to stop at a stop sign in Hatfield Borough.

Read more:

• Police: Repeat Traffic Offender Arrested in Towamencin Hit-and-Run