A man from Brighton Heights was sentenced to jail for his role in the death of a pedestrian in 2013 while driving under the influence of alcohol.
According to court documents, Gregg R. Baratka, 38, has been sentenced by Common Pleas Judge Edward J. Borkowski of Allegheny County to serve eight to 23 months’ imprisonment and four years’ probation.
In December of 2013, Baratka told police was turning left in a pickup truck from Brighton Road onto Woods Run Avenue about 7:30 p.m. Baratka heard his side-view mirror hit his window and he stopped his vehicle. Witnesses informed him that he had struck a pedestrian. Baratka called 911 and waited for police to arrive at the scene.
The victim in the accident, pedestrian James Lepinsky, 88, died four days as the result of blunt force trauma suffered in the accident.
Police administered a blood-alcohol test which indicated that Bartaka’s blood alcohol level was 0.09 — just above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Baratka pleaded guilty to the charge of homicide by vehicle, accidents involving death, DUI and other related offenses.
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