Jeffrey Glowatski could face six months in jail for a 2024 crash that took the life of an 11-year-old girl in Harrison’s Natrona section if he is found guilty of misdemeanor DUI.

Glowatski, 65, of Harrison is charged with misdemeanor DUI after the vehicle he was driving struck Roxanne Bonnoni on Aug. 20 along North Canal Street. Bonnoni died at the scene.

Glowatski’s blood-alcohol level was 0.15% when recorded at 11:41 p.m., about four hours after the collision, according to the police criminal complaint. That’s almost twice Pennsylvania’s legal limit of 0.08%.

During a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Carolyn Bengel in Brackenridge, Glowatski made no comment other than to waive his charges to Alle­gheny County Court. His arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 7 in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Bengel released Glowatski on his own recognizance.

He is not charged with causing Bonnoni’s death, which was a decision made by Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala’s office.

Zappala’s chief of staff, Rebecca Spangler, said she can’t speak specifically to a pending case.

In general though, she said, someone can be charged with a DUI and related offenses supported by the evidence, but not be charged criminally “for other events that occur simultaneously with or directly after the DUI if the evidence does not establish the intoxication was a cause of the other event.”

Bonnoni’s family was not in the courtroom. When reached Wednesday afternoon, Roxanne’s mother, Amber, said the decision feels unjust.

“My daughter’s life was taken, and yet all he’s being charged with is DUI and reckless driving,” she said. “It’s heartbreaking. Her life meant so much more than that.”

Glowatski’s attorney, David Shrager, said the emotions of the case are not lost on anyone.

“This involves the most important thing, the loss of life. But you can’t just have correlation, you have to have causation,” he said.

Charges were determined after an exhaustive one-year investigation, Shrager said. Investigators could not prove anything would have happened differently had Glowatski been sober, Shrager said.

Bonnoni, who was hearing impaired, was crossing the street near Kuntz Street when she was hit. Glowatski stayed at the scene, according to police.

“My client is devastated, and all of our hearts go out to the family, but the judges and the DA must apply the law,” Shrager said.

On the advice of his attorney, Glowatski did not comment after the hearing.

Because this would be Glowatski’s first offense if found guilty, Shrager said, consequences could range from probation to limited jail time. The maximum penalty for a first-time DUI offense in Pennsylvania is six months in jail, Shrager said.

Glowatski’s driver’s license has been suspended.

Bonnoni said her family is left grappling with Zappala’s decision.

“How can such a serious loss be met with such minimal charges?” Bonnoni said. “I miss my daughter more than anything. She was my heart, my world. And losing her has left a hole in our lives that can never be filled.”

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