Homicide Charges Filed in Crash That Killed Chesterbrook Motorcyclist

The district attorney says drunken driving on Route 202 caused a 'senseless' death.

Robert Elwood Landis, 49, of West Chester, is facing homicide by vehicle charges following an accident on Route 202 that took the life of a motorcyclist in Westtown on April 26. Chester County District Attorney Thomas Hogan said Landis was found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.28 percent, more than three times the legal limit at the time of the crash which killed 24-year-old Liam Crowley of Chesterbrook in Tredyffrin Township. "Anybody who drives drunk is in danger of killing another person. Getting behind the wheel of a pickup truck at night on the highway with this much alcohol in your system is like firing 5,000 pound bullet into a crowd of people," Hogan said. Read the full story on West Chester Patch.

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Chesterbrook Resident Injured in Motorcycle Crash

The Friday-night accident on Route 202 resulted in DUI charges against a pickup truck driver, according to police.

Update: Chesterbrook Motorcyclist in Route 202 Crash Dies Original story continues below A two-vehicle accident Friday night on Route 202 critically injured a motorcyclist and prompted drunken-driving charges against a pickup truck driver, Westtown-East Goshen police say. At 10:28 p.m., police responded to Route 202 and Stanton Avenue in Westtown Township. Investigators believe the 24-year-old motorcyclist from Chesterbrook was riding north on 202 when a 49-year-old West Chester man driving his Dodge Ram pickup truck south turned left toward Stanton, into the motorcycle's path. The two vehicles collided. Good Fellowship Ambulance and Medic 91 transported the motorcyclist—who had been wearing a helmet—to Paoli Memorial Hospital, where he …

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'All Hell Broke Loose' After Chesterbrook Vote, Late Supervisor Said

In a video shown at a recent township meeting, Henry Rentschler described the Chesterbrook development vote during his time as chairman of the Board of Supervisors.

Henry Rentschler, a Tredyffrin Township Supervisor from 1968 to 1976 who died in March, was remembered at the April 15 Board of Supervisors meeting. "Mr. Rentschler led the board with dignity and vision," board chairwoman Michelle Kichline said, summing up the sentiments of the township leaders who worked with him.   View the attached video of Rentschler describing Chesterbrook vote "He voted for Chesterbook in the face of 5,000 oppositions on a petition. In 1976, the population of this township was 23,000 people. So, to put that in perspective, one-fifth of our population was opposed to Chesterbrook," Kichline said. "Now Chesterbrook is held out in planning development communities as a model for multi-use, smart planning and use of open …

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Electrical Fire Closes Bagel Shop Temporarily

The sign on the door had Patch readers asking what is going on at Chesterbrook store.

The bright orange sign on the door appeared to be a little more ominous than what was going on inside the Manhattan Bagel Store in the Chesterbrook Shopping Center on Friday. Store Manager Lalo Patel told Patch a circuit breaker box caught fire Friday morning, forcing the store to close for repairs. The sign on the door read "condemned" prompting curious readers to contact TE Patch. The signs are often issued in situations like this. They can indicate that a store or building or pther facility must be inspected before they can be re-opened to the public. Patel told Patch late Friday morning that an electrical contractor was on site working to correct the problem. The manager told TE Patch he was hoping to get the store re-opened for …

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Fire Forces Evacuation at Chesterbrook Center

Home video captures intense blaze just before firefighters arrive.

A rapidly spreading tree and brush fire forced a brief evacuation of Chesterbrook Corporate Center office building and destroyed a dumpster, fence and damaged a construction site port-a-potty Tuesday morning. According to the Berwyn Fire Company website Berwyn Engine 2-3 arrived on location and reported a 30' x 50' area of brush, dumpsters, and other debris on fire within 50 yards of an office building. The nearby building was evacuated prior to the arrival of first responders as a precaution. There was no reported firefighter or civilian injuries. Damage was limited to a port-o-potty, construction equipment, a fence and landscaping. The Chester County Fire Marshal's Office and the PA State Police Fire Marshal's Office were notified of the…

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New Photos Inside Chesterbrook Townhouse Fire

New photos from a firefighter who was inside the building.

Luke Rafferty sent TE Patch these photos of the fire at 66 Cabot Drive, in the Newport Neighborhood of Chesterbrook. Rafferty, who is with the Berwyn Fire Company, took the photos inside the building after firefighters had safely put out the two alarm blaze. There were no reports of any injuries.The fire spread into the chimney of the center row home. Berwyn Fire officials say smoke from the fire and water from the firefight caused some damage to the rowhouses on each side of the one that burned. People in the adjoining units were allowed back in their homes. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. A report on the the Berwyn Fire Company website says damage estimates in the fire are at $350,000. Editor's Note: TE Patch would like to…

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Bob Byrne

9:46 pm on Monday, March 19, 2012

While this is a horrible tragedy for the homeowner, Patch neither received nor posted any photos that show personal items (except for potted plants) or family photos or anything in the interior of the burned out home beyond structural damage. We have not named the homeowner/victim in any stories posted on TE Patch. The purpose in posting the interior photos is to offer an uncommon and stark view …   more ›