75-year-old woman charged in hit-and-run

Lower Merion police filed charges today against a 75-year-old Villanova woman they said is responsible for a hit-and-run accident July 15 that injured a Bryn Mawr teenager.

Suzanne K. Lammers, 75, of the 1600 block of Hepburn Drive, was charged with causing an accident involving personal injury, a felony, and failure to stop and render assistance, a summary offense. The felony carries a minimum sentence of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Lammers was arraigned via video camera at the Police Administration Building in Ardmore; the charges were lodged with Magisterial District Court Justice Kathleen Valentine several blocks away.

Lammers was released after posting 10 percent of $50,000 cash bond. A preliminary hearing is set for 10 a.m. Thursday, Police Superintendent Michael J. McGrath said.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, the accident happened on New Gulph Road near Morris Avenue in Bryn Mawr. Andrew Mallee, 13, was riding his bicycle on New Gulph when he was struck by a car described by witnesses as a gold Volvo station wagon. Both the car and bike were heading west. The car didn't stop, the affidavit said.

Mallee was treated at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for head injuries, but is expected to make a full recovery, McGrath said.

Detectives working from an anonymous tip went to Lammers' home Tuesday. She offered to show them her Volvo, parked in a garage, and said the car was damaged when she struck a deer.

"Mrs. Lammers stated she continued to travel west in order to turn around, and when she heard sirens, she decided that she should go home, because she was not sure what happened," the affidavit said.

Detectives who ran forensic tests on Lammers' car said the damage matched the circumstances of the hit-and-run accident, according to the affidavit.

Contact staff writer Bonnie L. Cook at 610-313-8232 or bcook@phillynews.com.