A Bensalem man was sentenced on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023, to state prison in two separate cases, including a fatal hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of a 65-year-old man in Bristol Township on Christmas Eve 2021.

Kevin Michael Baker Jr., 21, pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter for the crash that killed John Dugan as he crossed State Road in Bristol Township to go to a Christmas party. Baker also pleaded guilty to dealing large quantities of marijuana from his Bensalem apartment.

Relatives of Dugan and his fiancé, who was with him on the night of the crash, appeared before President Judge Wallace H. Bateman Jr. and addressed the impact of his loss.

“Christmas Eve will never be the same,” one of his daughters said, describing her father as a caring, hard-working, and fun-loving man. His daughter-in-law said that the fun, enjoyment, and excitement of Christmas Eve is now replaced with sadness since Dugan’s death.

“This has been a long road for John Dugan’s family who waited nearly two years for justice to be served,” Deputy District Attorney Jovin Jose said in court prior to sentencing.

In the negotiated sentence, Bateman sentenced Baker to 2 ½ years to 5 years in state prison on the involuntary manslaughter charge and time served to 23 months for one count of manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

The Christmas Eve crash was investigated by Bristol Township Police Department, with assistance from the Bucks County 20th Investigating Grand Jury.

The investigation found that Dugan, of Bristol Township, was killed at 5:09 p.m. on December 24, 2021, as he crossed State Road in Bristol Township to go to a Christmas party. The investigation found that Dugan fell on the street and was run over by a truck driven by Baker.

Dugan’s fiancé told police they were crossing State Road when he fell on the road, likely caused by a medical condition that causes his legs and feet to give out. The woman told police she tried to help Dugan up, but a truck “passed me real fast and hit John,” according to the Grand Jury presentment.    

The offending vehicle was determined to be a red Chevy Silverado with black wheels, heading westbound on State Road toward Bensalem.

After Bristol Township Police released information on the crash, they received a tip that led them to Baker. Police also received information that Baker had attempted to clean the driver’s side of the front bumper and repair a fog light that was damaged in the crash.

Baker turned himself in on April 25, 2022.

While out on bail, he was arrested by Bensalem Township Police for a series of controlled illegal narcotics purchases, particularly marijuana and Delta-9 THC vape cartridges. The investigation found that Baker ran an illegal drug operation that he advertised through social media.

In total, the Bensalem Township Police Special Investigations Unit seized 6.7 pounds of marijuana, over 200 THC vape cartridges, numerous marijuana edibles, drug paraphernalia, and more than $120,000 in US currency.

This crash was investigated by Bristol Township Police, led by Bristol Township Police Officer Kenneth Margerum, and the drug case was investigated by the Bensalem Township Police Department. Deputy District Attorney Jovin Jose prosecuted these cases.

Media Contact: Manuel Gamiz Jr., 215.348.6298, mgamiz@buckscounty.org