Family Of Montco Woman Killed While Walking Dog Plans Lawsuit

LOWER MORELAND, PA — The family of a local woman who was struck and killed by an erratic driver while she was walking her dog along a Lower Moreland street late last year is planning to file a wrongful death claim against the man who is being criminally charged with her death.

The estate of Mary T. Duffy says it is pursuing civil action against 71-year-old Michael Petrocik of Glenside after Petrocik struck and killed Duffy on Dec. 29, 2021, an accident that took the life of the 61-year-old Montgomery County mother and active community member.

"We intend to file a wrongful death and survival action and include a claim for punitive damages," attorney Carin O'Donnell told Patch on Friday.

O'Donnell, who specializes in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases, said the civil litigation would hopefully be filed sometime in the next couple of months. She is currently in the fact-gathering and discovery stages of the process.

"We hope by doing so that we raise awareness of the consequences of driving under the influence," O'Donnell said. "We hope to deter others by repeating the same type of conduct."

Patch reported on Duffy's death back in January.

Michael Petrocik, 71, of Glenside, is charged in connection with Duffy's death.

He stands accused of driving under the influence of multiple substances when he veered off of the roadway and struck Duffy, who was walking her dog at the time. The dog ended up surviving the collision.

Duffy was taken to Abington Hospital's Trauma Center, but she was unable to survive emergency surgery.

Petrocik faces numerous criminal charges in connection with Duffy's death, including homicide by vehicle while DUI, driving under the influence, reckless driving and various summary offenses.

Records show that he was originally scheduled to have a preliminary hearing earlier this week before Magisterial District Judge Jay S. Friedenberg, but that the proceeding had been instead pushed back to April 21.

Records show that he is currently confined to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility since he was unable to post bail.

O'Donnell said the accident took the life of an upstanding member of the community and mother of a 20-year-old daughter, who lived in the same home as Duffy.

"Mary's daughter only had her mom and now she has nobody except extended family," O'Donnell said. "He took everything away from her."

Mary, who was unmarried, was involved with A Tail to Tell, which is a dog rescue organization, as well as an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee, according to O'Donnell.

She was also involved with St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Guatemala Service Projects, and many other local charities for the homeless, refugees and veterans, O'Donnell stated.