Police: Woman hit husband with car
From left, Patricia Lynn Burns and James Patrick Burns
Patricia Lynn Burns
James Patrick Burns
A Fallowfield Township couple were arrested Monday by state police after she allegedly struck her husband as she backed out her vehicle from the garage the day after he allegedly assaulted her and their 21-year-old daughter.
State police said Patricia Lynn Burns, 43, of 181 Hess St., Bentleyville, also was intoxicated when she reportedly struck James Patrick Burns, 45, as she reportedly attempted to back out of the driveway at their home following the domestic dispute.
State police were called to the home by their daughter, Brenna Renee Burns.
When police arrived, James Burns told troopers he was struck by the vehicle as his wife backed out of the garage onto the driveway.
He said he was pinned between the vehicle and a brick retaining wall and dragged a short distance before falling, Brenna Burns told police that her mother had slapped her on the cheek.
Patricia Burns returned while police were at the home. She told police she was attempting to leave “the situation.”
When police asked her if she had been drinking, she said she drank about a half-pint of vodka. She also told police she was attempting to leave the house to avoid her husband, who had assaulted her the previous day.
She told the trooper she left after hitting her husband, but returned because she was worried about him.
James Burns was arrested Sunday by state police on two counts of simple assault and harassment for allegedly kicking his wife and punching his daughter.
He was arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger and released Monday from Washington County Jail after posting $20,000 bond.
Patricia Burns was arraigned before Redlinger on two counts of harassment and one count each of aggravated assault, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol, simple assault, harassment and reckless driving.
James Burns also was arraigned before Redlinger on two counts each of simple assault and harassment. She was released Tuesday from Washington County jail after posting $20,000 bond.
Both are scheduled for preliminary hearings before District Judge Larry Hopkins later this month.