A New Holland man was sentenced to one and a half to five years in state prison plus four years of probation after he pleaded guilty this month to injuring a young girl and endangering two other children when he crashed head-on into another vehicle while driving drunk.

Judge Dennis Reinaker sentenced Douglas Leroy Lewis II, of the 300 block of Warren Street, after he pleaded guilty July 1 to a single count each of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, endangering the welfare of children, driving under the influence, four counts of recklessly endangering another person and seven summary traffic offenses.

Lewis, 35, was drunk when he crashed head-on into another vehicle at the intersection of Lincoln Highway East and South Singer Avenue in Paradise Township the evening of April 19, 2025. 

A 7-year-old girl who was a passenger in the other vehicle suffered fractures to her thigh and eye socket as a result of the crash.  An 8-year-old in the vehicle was also seriously injured.

Assistant District Attorney Daniel Lingousky, who prosecuted the case, told the court Lewis’ actions were “very serious” and said it was fortunate that no one was killed.

An attorney representing Lewis asked for a mitigated sentence to be served in county prison, arguing that his blood alcohol level, while above the legal limit, was relatively low. Rather, Lewis’ attorney said, it was a “lapse in judgement” that led to the collision.

When given the opportunity to speak before his sentencing Lewis apologized to the victims, lamenting that he could not undo the harm he had caused them. 

Blood drawn about an hour after the collision showed that Lewis had alcohol in his system at the time. Lewis also admitted to police to having consumed multiple alcoholic beverages before driving, and State Police troopers who responded to the crash found a small bottle of vodka in the center cup holder of his vehicle.

Lewis’ 3-year-old son was in his vehicle at the time of the crash but was uninjured. 

The driver of the other vehicle told police she was unable to avoid Lewis’ vehicle as he approached her head-on. 

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Tyler Serafini filed the charges.