A Harrison man has been charged after his drunk driving led to the tragic death of 11-year-old Roxanne Bonnoni in Natrona last summer. Jeffrey Glowatski, 65, faces three counts of DUI and two counts of careless driving, but he has not been charged with causing her death.
Allegheny County Police announced the charges on Wednesday, following a crash on August 20, 2024, when Glowatski, after consuming 12 beers, struck Bonnoni as she was crossing the street near Kuntz Street in Natrona. According to the criminal complaint, Glowatski had been at two local bars before the fatal accident.
Glowatski had spent the afternoon drinking at the American Legion in Brackenridge, where surveillance footage shows him consuming seven beers over two hours. He then went to Boots Bar, where he drank five more beers before getting behind the wheel, according to local CBS affiliate KDKA.
After the crash, Glowatski refused a field sobriety test but consented to a blood draw, which showed his blood alcohol content at 0.15%, nearly double Pennsylvania’s legal limit of 0.08%. Roxanne Bonnoni, who was hearing impaired, was struck by Glowatski’s Jeep Patriot just minutes after he left Boots Bar. Harrison police were the first to arrive at the scene.
Despite the evidence of his intoxication, Glowatski has not been charged with causing Bonnoni’s death, with charges solely focusing on DUI and careless driving. The decision to pursue the DUI charges, rather than homicide-related charges, has sparked mixed reactions, according to TribLive.
Fred Rabner, the family’s attorney, expressed some hope in the charges, noting, “Coming up on the one-year anniversary of this tragedy, the family is somewhat heartened by the fact that charges are being brought forward, with the idea that some justice lies ahead.” Roxanne’s mother describes in a GoFundMe how her dad was home that night and watched everything unfold.
However, he added, “We have to wonder aloud whether a sober Mr. Glowatski would have seen the child cross the street.” Rabner also acknowledged the family’s gratitude for the investigation, despite their disappointment that homicide charges were not pursued.
“We take solace in knowing he will have to face these allegations in court and so badly desire closure,” he said. The Bonnoni family has also expressed appreciation for the community’s outpouring of support as they continue to grieve the loss of Roxanne.