A judge sentenced a city man to two and a half to 10 years in state prison this month after he pleaded guilty to striking and severely injuring a pedestrian while driving drunk.

Judge Dennis Reinaker handed down the sentence to Tyler Anthony Stewart, of the 1300 block of Calvert Lane, on April 2. Stewart had previously pleaded guilty in November to felony counts of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, accidents involving death or injury while not licensed, aggravated assault by vehicle and six other misdemeanor and summary offenses.

In arguing for a lengthy sentence to be imposed, Assistant District Attorney Kyle Linardo, who prosecuted the case, noted that Stewart had a blood alcohol content of 0.437% at the time of the crash – more than five times the legal limit in Pennsylvania.

Consuming that much alcohol “is toxic,” Linardo told the court. “That’s almost fatal in and of itself.”

“I’ve never seen a reading that high in all of my years on the bench,” Reinaker said.

Prior to imposing the sentence Reinaker expressed astonishment that Stewart was even able to physically put himself behind the wheel, asking him point black if he remembered the incident at all. Stewart did not respond to Reinaker’s question.

Stewart, 32, later told police he had consumed a pint of vodka several hours before he struck the victim in the 1500 block of Oregon Pike in Manheim Township while running late to pick up his girlfriend from work the evening of Oct. 18, 2024.

As a result of the crash the victim suffered a traumatic brain injury, numerous broken bones including his pelvis and spine and was intubated for several months. Stewart himself was also injured and taken to a nearby hospital.

The fact that the victim – and Stewart himself – survived the collision at all is “a miracle,” Linardo told the court. The only reason Stewart didn’t cause more damage, Linardo argued, is because the incident occurred so late in the evening.

Video footage from a nearby business showed Stewart speeding and traveling with no lights on in the moments before the crash shortly before 11 p.m. An analysis of the footage determined that Stewart was traveling twice the speed limit in the area.

Police encountered the victim lying in the middle of the road with severe injuries and road rash when, while attending to his injuries, they witnessed Stewart subsequently crash into a pole in a closed business’ parking lot on the opposite side of Lititz Pike. Stewart’s vehicle was heavily damaged and appeared to have struck a person.

As he was receiving treatment Stewart told police he believed he may have struck a pedestrian. Days later, Stewart admitted to having consumed alcohol before he got behind the wheel.

Investigators also determined that Stewart’s driver’s license was suspended at the time of the crash.

In addition to the prison time Stewart must also pay a $1,275 fine as part of his sentence.

Manheim Township Police Officer Adam Lawson filed the charges.