Glenside Man Charged With Homicide By Vehicle In Death Of Lower Moreland Dog Walker

LOWER MORELAND, PA — A Glenside man has been arrested and is being charged with homicide by vehicle in relation to a fatal accident late last year that killed a 61-year-old woman who was walking her dog along a sidewalk in Lower Moreland Township.

Montgomery County prosecutors and Lower Moreland Township police on Friday announced the arrest of Michael Petrocik, 71, on various charges relating to the Dec. 29, 2021, crash that took the life of Mary T. Duffy.

Duffy was walking her dog along the 3000 block of Philmont Avenue in Huntingdon Valley a little after 12 noon when an Audi driven by Petrocik failed to navigate a turn, left the roadway, crossed a berm and a grassy area and crashed into Duffy, knocking the woman into a pole, according to the DA's Office.

"The investigation determined that the Audi was traveling between 45 and 48 mph in a 35-mph zone before the crash, and that the defendant failed to react through the entire event, as crash video that had been captured by a nearby business's surveillance camera showed no evidence of the Audi's brakes being engaged," states a DA's Office news release.

After striking Duffy, Petrocik continued across an asphalt driveway and a yard before hitting a stone wall and launching airborne before coming to a rest, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said that lab testing revealed that Petrocik was under the influence of multiple substances at the time of the crash.

A police criminal complaint in the case states that Petrocik appeared impaired when questioned by Lower Moreland police at the scene and that the defendant reportedly admitted to officers that he was on prescription medication and that he said he couldn't recall what happened at the time of the crash.

A forensic toxicology report subsequently showed that Petrocik had Valium in his system along with THC, which is the active ingredient in marijuana; Prozac; Wellbutrin; and other substances, according to the criminal complaint.

When Lower Moreland police arrived at the accident scene they found Duffy lying on the sidewalk and saw the Audi stopped approximately 164 feet away from Duffy, according to the DA's Office.

Duffy was subsequently transported to Abington Hospital's Trauma Center where she underwent emergency surgery but was later pronounced dead.

Duffy's dog survived the accident.

In addition to homicide by vehicle, Petrocik is being charged with homicide by vehicle while DUI, driving under the influence, reckless driving and various summary offenses.

He was arraigned on Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Jay S. Friedenberg, who set bail at $20,000 cash.

Petrocik subsequently posted bail and was released from custody. Court records show that bail was posted by a private individual from Philadelphia but the relationship to the defendant was not specified.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for March 15 at 8 a.m. before Friedenberg.