Details revealed in report of Route 228 pedestrian-vehicle accident
Details surrounding the November pedestrian-vehicle crash on Route 228 near Mars Area Middle School were revealed in a report by Adams Township police obtained Tuesday by the Butler Eagle.
Officials said Monday that 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 the middle School, crossed the road and was hit.
Though the report redacted all names associated with the incident, Richard Goldinger, Butler County district attorney, in a Monday phone interview said that neither Haggerty nor Paige was at fault.
“There’s no criminal investigation because there’s no criminal charges filed,” Goldinger said. “It’s what we call a tragic accident.”
According to the report, Haggerty was driving her 2021 Lexus and traveling eastbound on Route 228 at roughly 35 mph. The road conditions were described as dry and dark, with no streetlights in the area.
Police said Paige was attempting to cross Route 228 from the middle school to Sheetz on Dori Drive around 5:29 p.m. The report indicated that there is no crosswalk or any pedestrian crossing signals where Paige attempted to cross.
As Paige and three other juveniles waited to cross the road, westbound traffic on Route 228 stopped for a traffic signal, according to documents. Police said Paige and another juvenile ran into the path of Haggerty’s vehicle while attempting to cross Route 228.
Police said the impact of the crash caused Paige to fly into the air and hit a road sign. She suffered serious injuries and was taken by Quality EMS to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Police said no alcohol or drug use was detected on Haggerty during the investigation.
Shawn Anglum, chief of Adams Township police, declined comment on the incident during a Tuesday phone interview.
“It’s all in the report,” he said.
Haggerty did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
