District judge identified as driver in Route 228 pedestrian-vehicle crash; ruled not at fault
A Butler County district judge was identified as the driver who hit a 13-year-old girl on Route 228 near Mars Area Middle School in November, and officials said Monday that it’s not her fault.
Sue Haggerty, district judge for the Saxonburg area, was behind the wheel the night of Nov. 29 when Paige Lauten, an eighth-grade student at Mars Area Middle School, crossed the road, according to Richard Goldinger, district attorney, during a phone interview with the Eagle on Monday night.
Adams Township police said an investigation showed Paige was attempting to cross Route 228 from the school, walked in front of a vehicle and was hit. Crews were dispatched to respond around 5:31 p.m.
Goldinger said responding officers conducted the investigation as they would for any other motorist.
“There was no fault by Haggerty whatsoever,” he said. “She was completely cooperative and went above and beyond...There’s no criminal investigation because there’s no criminal charges filed. Thank God that girl is recovering, but I know (Haggerty) is devastated.”
