Aug 10, 2017 2 min read

Charges were sent Wednesday from the office of District Judge Jay Weller to a Canton Township woman accused of having a blood-alcohol content more than 5 1/2 times the 0.08 percent limit when she crashed into two vehicles last month in South Strabane Township.

Police said Tamara Sue Lowden, 23, of 1931 Arlington Ave., had a blood-alcohol content of 0.45 percent when she crashed into the vehicles on Route 19 July 2. Police said she failed to stop for a red light and crashed into one of the vehicles at the intersection with Trinity Place. She allegedly continued north on Route 19, failed again to stop for a red light at Landings Drive and crashed into another vehicle.

Sgt. Michael Manfredi spotted her car, with heavy front-end damage, at Route 19 and Racetrack Road. Lowden turned onto Racetrack, and Manfredi activated his emergency lights and siren near Meadows Casino. Police said the car continued on, weaving in traffic on Racetrack, before turning into Burger King. Police later learned that Lowden worked at the fast-food restaurant.

Lowden reportedly told Manfredi she might have had something to drink. Police said the car was in poor condition, with bald tires and the driver’s door held closed by a strap that had to be cut to get it open. When she got out of the car, Lowden fell to the ground and was too intoxicated to stand, according to court documents.

Lowden was taken to Canonsburg Hospital and later transferred to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Lowden pleaded guilty in Fayette County Court July 26 to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, possession of marijuana and traffic violations.

In the South Strabane incident, Lowden was charged with two counts each of driving under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene of a crash, failure to stop at a red signal, four counts of having improper tires and one count each of reckless driving and not having her vehicle inspected. She is scheduled for a Sept. 1 preliminary hearing before Weller.