Hit-run socialite, 77, sent to prison

Suzanne K. Lammers, the Main Line woman who pleaded guilty in a hit-and-run car accident this summer, was taken to jail this morning after being sentenced to at least 90 days in prison.

During an hour-long hearing in Norristown, Montgomery County Judge William R. Carpenter ordered Lammers, 77, to begin serving her sentence immediately.

Suzanne K. Lammers, 75, of the 1600 block of Hepburn Drive in Lower Merion, was charged with causing an accident involving personal injury, a felony, and failure to stop and render assistance, a summary offense. She has been sent to jail.

She sagged onto the defense table and seemed physically ill after hearing the sentence. Shaking, she asked the sheriff for a wastebasket and threw up in it.

The judge said he chose jail over house arrest because of her initial failure to come forward and take responsibility for the crime.

“In a sense, she’s been running and hiding ever since. Now she’s trying to evade the consequences that the legislature intended for this crime,” said Carpenter, who set the maximum prison time at 23 months.

Basically, after three months of incarceration, she would be eligible for parole for the next 20 months of her sentence, then on probation for another year. She must also perform 200 hours of community service.

Accidents Causing Serious Injury

McGoldrick said outside the courtroom that he felt the jail term was proper, “given her utter lack of remorse or compassion as the days evolved.”

Lammers did not address the court, and that angered at least one member of his family. “She never said she was sorry,” said a man who would not give his name.

Lammers was charged with being involved in an accident causing serious injury, a third-degree felony carrying a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

A less serious offense, failing to stop and render aid, was merged into the felony, law enforcement officials said.

The Mallee family has filed a civil suit, which is expected to progress now that the criminal matter is resolved. Richard J. Hollawell, the Mount Laurel attorney handling the case, attended the hearing.

He said afterward that the next step would be to depose Lammers, but that wouldn’t happen until after she has served her time in jail.

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