Lawsuit alleges wrongful death in Route 8 fatal crash last year

The family of a young woman killed in a drunken driving crash last year is suing the driver of the vehicle that struck hers head-on and the bars where the family’s attorneys said the other driver had been drinking just before the crash.

Kaitlyn Marie Eckelberry, 23, was pronounced dead shortly after midnight Feb. 22, 2020, after the car she was driving was struck by another vehicle in Hampton.

Madisyn Nicole O’Connor, 24, of Butler, was charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, DUI and related charges. A trial in that case is scheduled for May 12.

A criminal complaint filed in the case said O’Connor was driving an SUV northbound on William Flinn Highway in Hampton late Feb. 21, 2020, when she crossed the double yellow line and struck a car driven by Kaitlyn Eckelberry head-on.

Eckelberry, who was from Canton, Ohio, died at the scene. She earned bachelor’s degree in 2018 and a master’s in physician assistance science in 2019 from Erie’s Gannon University, according to her obituary. She was working as an assistant softball coach at Chatham University at the time of the crash.

Police said they found two cans of alcoholic hard seltzer in O’Connor’s front seat. Her medical records showed that her blood-alcohol level was 0.257%, more than three times the legal limit, police said. In addition, the criminal complaint said that a rapid drug screen tested positive for marijuana.

An airbag control module in O’Connor’s vehicle showed she had been traveling 63 mph five seconds prior to the crash and never activated her brakes, the complaint said.

On Friday, James Eckelberry, the victim’s father and administrator of her estate, filed the lawsuit in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.

The complaint names as defendants O’Connor; ALM Industries, which owned the car O’Connor was driving; Jay’s Mount Royal Inn on Beyrleye Avenue in Shaler; and Jay’s Other Place on William Flinn Highway.

The lawsuit said O’Connor patronized Jay’s Other Place and the Mt. Royal Inn in the hours prior to the crash. The complaint alleges that O’Connor was visibly intoxicated at Jay’s Other Place, as well as the Mt. Royal Inn, but was still served alcohol.

A phone number listed for Jay’s Mount Royal Inn was disconnected Monday. A woman who answered the phone at Jay’s Other Place said she had no comment and that there was no way to reach the owner.

The lawsuit includes claims for wrongful death and negligence under the Dram shop statute; failure to properly train employees to stop serving alcohol to an intoxicated person; and for the employees’ failure to help O’Connor get a ride that night.