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 was 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.”
Goldinger said police reported Haggerty was driving the speed limit, which is 45 mph along Route 228, at the time of the crash.
“She asked police to take her for a blood test so they would see she wasn’t under the influence,” he said. “There was no alcohol involved. She encountered a situation on a dark road with no ability to avoid it. It’s what we call a tragic accident.”
He added that no one is to blame for the incident.
“I’m not going to put blame on the girl. It’s awful what happened there,” he said. “On that road, it’s so dark.”
Goldinger said Haggerty took a sabbatical from the magistrate’s office following the crash and until the start of 2023.
“She took time off because she was devastated. I’ve had conversations with her,” he said.
Paige was taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh for serious injuries sustained during the incident.
According to an update on the “Prayers for Paige L” Facebook page, she continues to improve through physical therapy, and has begun to walk.
The post said Paige is “showing her true personality and spirit more and more each and every day,” and “talks nonstop and makes the nurses and other patients smile and laugh throughout their days.”
A post on the page last week said Paige is undergoing therapy for speech, physical, occupational rehabilitation.
Haggerty could not be reached for comment Monday night.
