In a horrifying occurrence in Pennsylvania, an 11-year-old girl, identified as R. Bonnoni, was struck and killed by a drunk 65-year-old driver, identified as J. Glowatski, only yards from her home—moments after the elderly man had left a nearby bar. Nearly a year later, Glowatski has been charged, but not with her death, causing indignation and heartbreak among those who loved her.
Glowatski was recently charged with three charges of driving under the influence and two counts of negligent driving, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Despite the tragic events of last August, he will not be charged with vehicular murder. The incident occurred on August 20, 2024, at approximately 7:30 p.m. Bonnoni, who was described by loved ones as cheerful, imaginative, and full of life, was playing with a playmate outside her home. Glowatski, who had spent nearly five hours drinking at two nearby bars, struck her with his vehicle.
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According to court records, Glowatski began drinking at 2:45 p.m. and finished at least 12 beers, including five 12-ounce servings, before exiting the establishment. By 7:15 p.m., he was driving his vehicle. Minutes later, as Bonnoni crossed the street in front of her home, she was struck. Her father observed the entire incident and hurried to his daughter’s side. According to her family’s GoFundMe page, her father “rushed to her, picking her up, holding her, and calling for help.” Unfortunately, nothing could be done to help her.
When first responders arrived at the crash site, they found Glowatski slurring his words and rejecting field sobriety tests. Officers obtained a search order to conduct blood alcohol testing, which indicated that Glowatski’s BAC was 0.153%, nearly twice the legal limit. A witness informed local reporters that he approached Glowatski’s car and requested he switch off the engine and hand over his keys to keep him from fleeing. The tragedy of that moment has remained with the community for months.
Despite the severity of the incident and evident symptoms of intoxication, prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute anyone with homicide. “Based on the evidence, the case has been appropriately charged,” a district attorney’s office representative told local media. Legal experts demonstrated how difficult it is to prove vehicular homicide beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutors are ethically bound not to file charges that they do not believe they can effectively prove in court. However, a number of community members, including eyewitnesses and family friends, have voiced their dissatisfaction with the reduced charges, asserting that Glowatski is receiving a lenient punishment. Glowatski is set to appear at a preliminary hearing on September 24. As the case progresses, doubts remain about whether the legal system can ever adequately account for the death of a kid whose life was cut short just steps from her own front door.
