Haverford High School Football Coach Facing DUI Charges

By Dan Wing

HAVERFORD, Pa. (CBS) -- The Haverford High School football team will take the field Friday night for a playoff game against Coatesville, but they will do so without their head coach. School District officials say that's because Coach Joe Gallagher has taken a leave of absence after being charged with DUI and leaving the scene of an accident over the weekend.

Gallagher, 59, is in his 23rd year as head coach at Haverford. Authorities say he was arrested around 4 p.m. Saturday after his Ford sedan struck another vehicle at the intersection of Lincoln and Fourth Avenues in Prospect Park, but Gallagher never stopped.

According to police, when officers eventually caught up to the coach, they noticed an open beer in the car and a faint odor of alcohol. Gallagher initially agreed to a blood test, but then refused, meaning he'll now face a mandatory 12-month suspension of his driver's license.

In addition to DUI, Gallagher is also being charged with reckless driving and other offenses related to the hit-and-run. He's been scheduled for a preliminary hearing on December 15th.

While Gallagher has temporarily stepped aside as the head coach of the football team, he will continue to work as a physical education teacher at Haverford High School.

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