Bridgeville cop watched cellphone in patrol car before striking pedestrian, police say

A former Bridgeville police patrolman was looking at his cellphone in December before striking and injuring a pedestrian with his patrol car, authorities said.

It is unclear if Daine Lower, 25, of Washington, Washington County, was on his cellphone at the exact time of the accident, Allegheny County Police said. But, he was using the phone before the collision and the cellphone’s video was seen playing “moments after the collision,” police said.

Lower was charged Wednesday with a felony count of aggravated assault by vehicle; a misdemeanor count of recklessly endangering another person and several moving violations, including reckless driving, court records show.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 15.

At 12:50 a.m. on Dec. 21, Lower, a patrol officer, was driving an on-duty Bridgeville police vehicle — a 2021 Dodge Charger. He took a “sharp left” and struck a pedestrian at the intersection of Bower Hill Road and Commercial Street in Bridgeville, Allegheny County Police said.

First responders took the victim, identified in the complaint as 25-year-old Patricia Stauffer, to UPMC Mercy hospital in critical condition. The complaint said she suffered head trauma.

Stauffer was “more than halfway across the road” when Lower’s patrol car struck her, the complaint said. Lower initially told police he “was looking back while making the left turn.”

Bridgeville police requested Collier police investigate. Those officers called in county police’s homicide and collision reconstruction units at 7:45 a.m. that day to take over the investigation.

Video from Lower’s patrol car shows Stauffer cross the intersection in a marked crosswalk on Commercial Street, Allegheny County Police said. The video also shows the patrol car turn onto Commercial Street and strike the victim while traveling 29 mph.

Police said Lower did not apply the brakes at the time of impact.

Lower is no longer employed with the Bridgeville police department. Bridgeville police Chief Chad King said Lower’s employment “ended in February.”

“This is a tragic and unfortunate situation for all parties involved, but most especially, for Patricia and her family,” said King,. “Obviously, out of respect for the rights of all concerned, and due to the pending criminal charges, and potential civil litigation, I trust that folks will appreciate that I am constrained in my ability to comment on the underlying incident at this time, and I will not do so today,” he added.

King stressed that “from the beginning, and throughout the process,” Bridgeville police fully cooperated with county police detectives “to ensure a complete, thorough, and independent investigation of this matter.”

King said Stauffer, the woman struck by Lower hit, has a “hopeful prognosis.” He did not elaborate.

“We continue to provide our thoughts, prayers, and support, and we look forward to providing whatever assistance that they may need, however we can,” he said.