Mixed Verdict Reached In Ex-Officer's Fatal Motorcycle Crash Trial
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The verdict for a former Pittsburgh Police officer accused in connection with a motorcycle crash that left his fiancé's intended maid of honor dead was found was read Tuesday morning.
Adam Lewis was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and DUI, but was found not guilty on the charge of vehicular homicide in the 2010 death of Jessica Lojak.
Judge Jeffrey Manning, who heard the case without a jury, said that Lewis' speed, which was 15 to 20 MPH over the speed limit on a curving road, was gross negligence.
Lewis was off-duty the night of Sept. 26, 2010, when he met his fiancé and her bridal party out on the South Side to help take the women back home after a bachelorette party.
Last week, Lewis testified that Jessica Lojak, who was killed, had asked to ride on the back of his motorcycle and caused him to lose control when she moved to the wrong side while taking a sharp right turn.
Lojak died after the motorcycle crossed the center line and was hit by an SUV.
"It's just tough, we're all on edge in there. It's just tough and you don't know if he's getting everything he deserves or not and it's just hard to deal with. Nothing he gets is going to bring my sister back," Lojack's brother, Ryan, said.
When Lewis left the courtroom, though, Ryan Lojak says he saw something he didn't like.
"Me and my brother were sitting right behind his wife," said Lojak, "and whenever they walked out they were taking him out he just looked over a little bit and he did a smile and a wink and it just - it hurt."
"Where's the remorse?" asked Rhonda Lojak, the victim's aunt. "Everybody is responsible for their own actions. Everybody should be responsible for their own actions. No cards, no calls, no nothing and then he walks out the way he did out of the courtroom where's the justice?
Bill Difenderfer, who represents Lewis says his client is remorseful .
"You know there's mixed emotions," said Difenderfer. "These things are gut wrenching for the victims, the defendant's family. My defendant is so - they're grieving over the entire matter. These kinds of cases there are no winners."
Lewis, who was charged with a DUI, testified he had a total of five drinks over a several-hour period and didn't feel impaired.
The former Zone 5 patrol officer was facing vehicular homicide and involuntary manslaughter.
Lewis will remain under house detention until his sentencing in January.
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