Inset: DUI victim Roxanne Bonnoni (GoFundMe). Background: The Boots Bar in Brackenridge, Pa., where Jeffrey Glowatski was allegedly drinking before he killed Roxanne Bonnoni in a drunken car crash, police report (Google Maps).
A man from Pennsylvania is facing charges for hitting an 11-year-old girl with his vehicle after consuming 12 beers at two bars — allegedly hitting her as she crossed the road while playing outside — in a fatal DUI collision last year, according to police.
Jeffrey Glowatski, 65, from Natrona Heights, is accused of killing Roxanne Bonnoni in August 2024 just moments after he departed the Boots Bar in Brackenridge, as reported by local sources.
Authorities say Glowatski struck Roxanne, who was hearing impaired, while she played in front of her Harrison Township residence on Kuntz Street at approximately 7:30 p.m., as relayed by local CBS affiliate KDKA. Glowatski’s criminal complaint, obtained by TribLive.com, recounted that the accused began consuming the beers around 2:45 p.m. and continued until about 7:15 p.m., when he left Boots Bar after allegedly drinking five 12-ounce servings.
The complaint stated that Glowatski entered his Jeep Patriot and struck down Roxanne shortly after leaving the bar. At least one witness observed the episode and approached Glowatski’s vehicle afterward, according to TribLive.com.
“I told him to turn the car off and give me the keys,” Jack Howard told the outlet. “I didn’t want him to leave.”
The complaint noted that Glowatski conversed with officers who arrived at the scene. Police mentioned his speech was slurred and he declined to undertake sobriety tests.
Additional testing was done through the execution of a search warrant. Glowatski’s blood alcohol level turned out to be nearly double the legal limit — 0.153%, according to police.
Roxanne’s mother describes in a GoFundMe how her dad was home that night and watched everything unfold.
“Her father, Anthony Csizmadia, witnessed it happen and rushed to her, picking her up, holding her, and calling for help,” the GoFundMe description says.
“Unfortunately, nothing could be done to save her,” it adds. “This horrible person robbed them of her. The parents and siblings were not even permitted to see or touch her. Only under a sheet to speak and maybe say a prayer.”
With the anniversary of Roxanne’s death approaching, authorities charged Glowatski this week with driving under the influence and careless driving, according to online court records. He has not been charged in connection with Roxanne’s death.
“Recognizing there is nothing that will bring Roxanne back, the family is somewhat heartened by the diligence of the District Attorney’s Office and the prosecuting officers who have worked tirelessly to bring this family some justice,” said family lawyer Fred Rabner in a statement to local NBC affiliate WPXI.
Roxanne attended DePaul School and was getting ready to start classes at Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf before she was killed last year. Her family says she had “aspirations of being a cheerleader and soccer player,” according to her obituary.
“She was creative and enjoyed drawing, loved walking the beach, slime, and playing with her sister,” the obit says. “She loved ice cream and popsicles and was a happy go lucky child who loved jokes and had a great sense of humor.”
Asked if Glowatski could face additional charges related to the DUI crash, a district attorney’s office spokesperson told KDKA that “based on the evidence, the case has been appropriately charged.”
