Thomas W. Druce

Thomas W. Druce (born 18 June 1961) is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He represented the 144th legislative district.^[3]

He graduated from William Tennent High School in 1979 and from Westminster College in 1983. He was sworn into the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1993.

In 2000, he pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a fatal accident in 1999 that killed Vietnam War veteran, Kenneth R. Cains, and served two years in a minimum security prison at Laurel Highlands.^[4][5] The forensic investigation of the case was the subject of an episode of Forensic Files.

As pointed out in the Forensic Files episode, Mr. Druce initially filed a false insurance report, indicating the black Jeep leased for him by the Pennsylvania taxpayers was damaged when he struck a traffic barrel on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. After having the vehicle repaired, Druce returned the car to the leasing company, and it was eventually sold.

Druce accepted a plea bargain, pleading guilty to leaving the scene of an accident, evidence tampering and insurance fraud. In return he avoided a trial, served two years in prison, paid a civil fine to the victim's family and resigned from his office.

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