A man from Philadelphia is alleged to have driven under the influence of alcohol and drugs, driven without a license, and driven over the speed limit, causing a two-car accident in Cheltenham Township that resulted in the death of a woman in the other car, according to authorities.
Shaikan Pitts, 38, from the 1400 block of Shelmire Street, was taken to court on Tuesday before District Court Judge James P. Gallagher, on multiple charges including causing a fatal accident while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving under the influence, causing aggravated assault while driving under the influence, causing a fatal accident without proper licensing, speeding, and driving recklessly in connection with the crash on Old York Road on November 25, 2023, which resulted in the death of 33-year-old Laishah “Nala” Kendra Holloman.
Pitts is currently in county jail with a $90,000 cash bail awaiting his preliminary hearing on April 8 before District Court Judge Emmett Madden.
Pitts’ arrest was announced on Wednesday by Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Cheltenham Township Police Chief John Slavin.
Holloman, who was born in Orange, N.J., was employed by Wyncote Academy as the farm manager and the educator of outdoor agriculture, according to her obituary.
The investigation began around 5:53 p.m. on November 25 when Cheltenham police were called to the area of Old York Road and Spring Avenue, in the Elkins Park section of the township, for a report of a vehicle collision involving a 2011 Nissan Rogue driven by Pitts and a white Ford van driven by Holloman, according to a criminal complaint filed by Cheltenham Township Police Officer Justin Sneeringer.
“The collision was reported to have an overturned vehicle, and a person trapped underneath the overturned vehicle,” Sneeringer wrote in the arrest affidavit.
When officers arrived, they found Holloman trapped under her white Ford van.
Investigators concluded that Pitts was traveling northbound on Old York Road “at a high speed” and collided with Holloman’s van as she was exiting a private driveway. Holloman was trying to enter Old York Road and go south, which required her to cross the northbound lanes from the private driveway she was leaving, according to the criminal complaint.
The Nissan hit the driver’s side door of the van with such force that it caused the van to spin and then overturn, according to police allegations.
“The force of the impact” caused Holloman to be partially thrown out of the driver’s side window of the van and she became trapped between the driver’s door and the ground, Sneeringer alleged in court documents.
Holloman was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical responders.
Pitts stayed at the crash site.
The investigation revealed that Pitts was driving at 69 mph in a 40 mph speed zone at the time of the collision, and physical evidence showed that the Nissan did not leave any tire marks, skid marks, or any signs of braking or evasive action, Sneeringer alleged.
Police claimed that if Pitts had been driving at the speed limit, he would have been able to see far enough ahead and have enough space to avoid hitting Holloman’s vehicle.
Officers also noticed a smell of alcohol coming from Pitts’ breath
Pitts was taken to a local hospital for unspecified injuries and had blood tests.
Subsequent tests showed that Pitts had a blood alcohol level of 0.135%, which is higher than the legal limit of 0.08%, according to the arrest affidavit. Blood tests also revealed the presence of cannabinoids, the active compounds in marijuana.
The investigation revealed that Pitts has never possessed a valid driver’s license.
