Police: Ex-cop was watching video when he struck, seriously injured a pedestrian

A Bridgeville police officer was watching a video on his phone moments before he struck and injured a pedestrian in a crosswalk late last year, according to charges filed Thursday by Allegheny County police.

Daine Lower, 25, is charged with aggravated assault by vehicle in connection with the Dec. 21 collision.

Investigators said the incident happened shortly before 1 a.m. at the intersection of Bower Hill Road and Commercial Street. A 25-year-old woman who police said was squarely in the crosswalk was hit as Mr. Lower made a sharp left onto Commercial.

Police said evidence showed that Mr. Lower, of Washington, never hit his brakes.

Bridgeville police Chief Chad King could not immediately be reached for comment. Mr. Lower is not listed as an officer on the department’s website, and Allegheny County police on Thursday referred to him as a former officer.

The dashboard camera inside the marked Dodge Charger records the vehicle’s speed, braking and whether lights and sirens are activated, Lt. Venerando Costa wrote in the complaint against Mr. Lower.

That data, according to the complaint, showed Mr. Lower was driving 29 mph and never hit the brakes when he hit the woman, who suffered head trauma from the collision. Police said streetlights in the area provided “ample light” at the crosswalk.

Mr. Lower’s body-worn camera was also recording inside the vehicle as he was driving, investigators said.

“Prior to the collision,” Lt. Costa wrote, “Officer Lower can be seen operating his cellphone while driving. He appears to be watching a video from the internet.”

As he struck the woman, police said, Mr. Lower had both hands on the wheel and his phone was not in view of his body cam. In the seconds after the crash, though, the body cam caught sight of the phone, which was still playing the same video, according to the complaint.

Mr. Lower allegedly told a Bridgeville officer who arrived on scene a minute after the crash that he’d been looking back while making the turn onto Commercial, according to the complaint.

Detectives tested the patrol car for any defects, police said, and found none.

In addition to aggravated assault, Mr. Lower is charged with reckless endangerment and several traffic violations. Court records did not list an attorney. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 15.