Upper Southampton Township, Pennsylvania – Criminal charges have been dropped against a Bucks County woman who was accused of intentionally striking another driver with her vehicle at a local gas station. New surveillance video later contradicted the allegations, leading prosecutors to withdraw the case.
The incident involved 64-year-old Linda Eckert of Perkasie, who was arrested in November 2025 following a confrontation that began on a nearby roadway and continued into a gas station parking lot. Authorities initially alleged that Eckert deliberately drove into another woman after a road dispute.
Roadway Dispute Leads to Confrontation
According to Eckert, the encounter began when she noticed another driver traveling slowly in the left lane while appearing to use a cellphone. Eckert said she passed the vehicle on the right and briefly looked toward the driver before continuing on her way.
Later that morning, around 11:30 a.m., Eckert pulled into the United Gas Station in Upper Southampton Township. What happened next became the center of the criminal investigation.
Surveillance Video Tells a Different Story
Eckert’s attorney, Paul Lang, stated that surveillance footage from the gas station showed the other woman approaching and kicking Eckert’s blue car as she attempted to leave the parking lot. The video reportedly captured the woman falling to the ground after making contact with the vehicle.
Lang said his office preserved the footage and also documented a visible footprint on the car, which he argued supported Eckert’s version of events. He criticized investigators for not initially preserving that evidence.
According to Lang, the video demonstrated that Eckert did not strike the woman intentionally and that the confrontation escalated due to alleged road rage from the other driver.
Arrest and Serious Charges
Despite the later video evidence, police arrived at Eckert’s home the same day and arrested her. She was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault by vehicle, simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime with intent, recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving, and related offenses. Authorities also accused her of hit-and-run.
Eckert described being taken into custody from her garage and expressed confusion at the accusations. The charges carried significant legal consequences and remained pending for several months.
Charges Withdrawn, Ticket Remains
After reviewing the surveillance footage and related evidence, prosecutors ultimately dropped all criminal charges against Eckert. However, she did receive a traffic citation for failing to use a turn signal.
Her attorney expressed frustration over the timeline, noting that it took more than 100 days for authorities to dismiss the charges after the evidence was presented. Lang has since called on the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office to review how the case was handled and to examine whether procedures were properly followed during the initial investigation.
As of now, officials have not publicly commented on the matter. The case has raised broader questions about evidence preservation and investigative processes in incidents involving alleged road rage and vehicular assault.
For Eckert, the dismissal brings relief after months of legal uncertainty, though concerns remain about how the situation unfolded.
