BIGLER TOWNSHIP – A Madera woman is being charged with homicide by vehicle and involuntary manslaughter in relation to a fatal crash that killed a two-year-old girl while she was allegedly driving under the influence of methamphetamine.
Jacqueline M. Lidgett, 55, is also charged by Clearfield-based state police with homicide by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle and endangering the welfare of children, all felonies, and related offenses.
The single-vehicle crash occurred at approximately 4:50 p.m. Sept. 21 in the 400 block of Banion Road in Bigler Township, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed with the office of Magisterial District Judge James Glass.
Upon arrival, Trooper Emerson Miller learned that the driver – later identified as Lidgett – had been transported to UPMC Altoona. The toddler passenger who was under her care was pronounced dead on-scene.
Miller summoned a Pennsylvania State Police Troop C Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Specialist (CARS) and Forensic Science Unit (FSU) to assist with his investigation.
State police determined Lidgett had traveled off the right side of the roadway and down an embankment. Her vehicle then impacted multiple trees and overturned onto its driver’s side, according to the crash report.
On Sept. 22, Miller interviewed Lidgett by phone while she was still hospitalized at UPMC Altoona. Of the crash, she said she could only remember swerving to miss an unknown object in the roadway.
On Sept. 23, another trooper provided photographs obtained from security cameras at Reams Mobile Repair. Images showed a black sports utility vehicle, similar to Lidgett’s, pass by at 4:36 p.m.; Clearfield County 911 dispatched troopers at 4:47 p.m.
The driver also reportedly appeared to be slumped over the steering wheel with the vehicle traveling over the fog line. Upon receipt of these photographs, Miller requested UPMC Altoona to save medical blood taken from Lidgett.
On Nov. 25, Lidgett was interviewed again at the state police barracks, and stated she had no memory of the events leading up to the crash. She said the last thing she could remember was turning left onto Banion Road and passing the Moose.
She said the next thing she could remember was being upside down in her vehicle. When asked if she’d ingested anything that would have impaired her driving abilities, she said no, and upon request, she authorized the release of her medical information.
On Nov. 27, state police obtained hospital records, showing Lidgett had a urine test, which came back positive for meth. On Dec. 16, Miller received the laboratory analysis of Lidgett’s medical blood, showing the presence of amphetamine, meth, nortriptyline, O-desmethylvenlafaxine, lamotrigine and diphenhydramine.
Lidgett is currently scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. Feb. 3 during centralized court.