Former Bridgeville police officer heads to trial on charges of crashing car into pedestrian

A former Bridgeville police officer is headed to trial on charges that he struck and injured a pedestrian with his patrol car.

Daine Lower, 25, is charged with a felony count of aggravated assault by vehicle, a misdemeanor count of recklessly endangering another person and several moving violations, including reckless driving. He appeared in court on Thursday for a preliminary hearing.

The incident took place on Dec. 21, 2023, when Lower allegedly struck 25-year-old Patricia Stauffer at the intersection of Bower Hill Road and Commercial Street, police said.

During Thursday’s hearing, Assistant District Attorney Jeff Zurisko called Allegheny County Police officer Alexander Durrani to testify in front of District Judge Craig Stephens.

Stephens found enough evidence to send the case to trial. A date has not yet been set.

Durrani showed body and dash camera video footage of the accident.

The video footage appears to show Lower, of Washington, Pa., playing videos on his cellphone prior to the accident.

“It appears to be one of the hosts of the show ‘MythBusters’,” Durrani said about the content of the video.

Later, in the body camera video, Lower gets out of the vehicle to respond to a call.

At 12:50 p.m. Lower’s car struck the pedestrian. Police said Lower’s vehicle, a 2021 Dodge Charger, took a sharp left before hitting Stauffer.

Bridgeville Police Department deferred the investigation to Collier Township police, who called county police’s homicide and collision reconstruction units to take over the investigation.

Video footage showed that Lower’s car brake was deployed throughout the entire left turn and was released a second before impacting with the victim.

Lower’s defense attorney, Phil DiLucente, pointed out that both of Lower’s hands were on the wheel of the patrol car.

“There is no evidence whatsoever, other than opinion, that he was looking (at his phone) at all,” DiLucente said about the moment of impact.

However, prior to the turn, the footage appeared to show Lower was driving in the oncoming traffic lane.

DiLucente also stated that Lower said he was looking back, which is why he did not see Stauffer in the crosswalk.

“This is an unfortunate traffic accident,” DiLucente said.

Zurisko argued that Lower’s driving behavior was distracted and dangerous.

“He is not just violating one traffic law. He is violating multiple traffic laws,” Zurisko said.

After the accident, first responders transferred Stauffer to UPMC Mercy hospital in critical condition.

Durrani testified that she suffered many injuries, including brain bleeding and seizures.

“Mr. Lower swore to protect society,” Zurisko said. “That, I believe, is gross negligence.”