District judge not at fault for crash that injured 13-year-old girl in Butler County
Authorities in Butler County said a district judge who struck a teen crossing Route 228 near Mars Middle School on Nov. 30 has been cleared of wrongdoing.
Saxonburg District Judge Sue Haggerty was behind the wheel when a 13-year-old girl walked into the path of her vehicle about 5:30 p.m., according to Adams Township police who investigated the incident.
Investigators said the girl was trying to cross Route 228 from the school and was hit when she walked in front of Haggerty’s vehicle.
Haggerty was driving the posted 45 mph speed limit and remained on the scene after the crash, police said.
Adams Township Assistant Police Chief Robert Scanlon on Monday confirmed that Haggerty requested that responding officers take her for a blood test to verify she was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Haggerty’s district judge region covers communities in southeastern Butler County, including Buffalo Township.
The girl was taken by ambulance to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh with serious injuries, according to police.
A recent Facebook post from the girl’s family said she is recovering with the assistance of speech, physical and occupational therapy sessions.
Tony LaRussa is a TribLive reporter. A Pittsburgh native, he covers crime and courts in the Alle-Kiski Valley. He can be reached at tlarussa@triblive.com.
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