Crime & Safety
L. Mac Man Pleads Guilty in Crash That Left Passenger Paralyzed
Stephan Ernst admits to charge of aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI; 2012 mishap was in Allentown.
A Lower Macungie man pleaded guilty Monday to charges that he was driving drunk when his car crashed in Allentown last year, leaving his passenger paralyzed from the chest down.
Online court records say Stephan Ernst, 33, of 5335 Juliet Circle, pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI. The plea was entered in Lehigh County Court before Judge Maria Dantos.
Other charges, including DUI first offense, recklessly endangering another person and reckless driving, were dropped in the plea agreement, the records say.
According to court records, Ernst was driving 75 mph on Lehigh Street Oct. 3, 2012 when his car first hit a utility pole and then the passenger side struck a traffic light pole. Passenger Jason Labowski was left paralyzed, according to a Morning Call story earlier this year.
Ernst's blood-alcohol content was 0.14 percent, The Call story said. The legal limit for being intoxicated is 0.08 percent.