https://triblive.com/sports/steelers-pitt-broadcaster-bill-hillgrove-to-serve-probation-to-resolve-murrysville-dui-case/
Steelers, Pitt broadcaster Bill Hillgrove to serve probation to resolve Murrysville DUI case
Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh football and basketball radio broadcaster William T. “Bill” Hillgrove will serve two years on probation after he was arrested in June for a drunken driving incident in Murrysville.
Police said Hillgrove, 79, of Murrysville, was intoxicated when he crashed into the front windows at Ferri’s ShurSave on Old William Penn Highway. The store manager identified Hillgrove, a regular customer, as the man who drove the Honda sports utility vehicle into the building and then walked into the store to fill a prescription before he drove away.
Police later questioned Hillgrove at his home. According to court records, Hillgrove said he drank several beers at the Bella Luna in Murrysville and that the car “just got away from me. I’m telling you that car just got away from me.”
Court records indicated that Hillgrove had a blood alcohol content of 0.16%, which is twice the limit at which a motorist in Pennsylvania is determined to be intoxicated.
During a hearing this week, Hillgrove agreed to enter the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for first-time nonviolent offenders. Enrollment in the program does not require a guilty plea and allows for the criminal case to later be expunged.
Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger sentenced Hillgrove to serve two years on probation.
Assistant District Attorney Mike Pacek said Hillgrove qualified for the diversionary program even though he was sentenced nearly two decades ago for another drunken driving incident. Following that incident on Nov. 21, 2001, Hillgrove was enrolled in the ARD program and sentenced to serve one year on probation.
Pacek said drunken driving arrests are removed from a driver’s record after 10 years if no additional cases are reported. Hillgrove’s driving record was clean over the last decade, Pacek said.
As part of the deal in connection with the June case, two drunken driving counts will be dismissed after Hillgrove completes his probation term. Pacek said Hillgrove paid the store owner for the damage the day after the arrest. Hillgrove’s driver’s license will be suspended for 60 days.
As a result of his arrest, Hillgrove was suspended from broadcasting the first two Steelers and Pitt football games this season.
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