A former Pittsburgh medic has been charged with multiple offenses, including homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, after a March incident that resulted in the death of a 60-year-old woman. Sydney Richardson, the accused, was behind the wheel of a pickup truck when she allegedly veered across the center line on Pittsburgh's East Carson Street and collided head-on with the SUV of Mary Alice Bendick. Bendick was pronounced dead at the hospital due to blunt force injuries following the crash, according to CBS News Pittsburgh.
Further details revealed that Richardson's blood alcohol content was 0.277 at the hospital, significantly higher than Pennsylvania's legal limit of 0.08 percent. The complaint stated that at the scene of the accident, Richardson had claimed to have fallen asleep at the wheel. However, the investigation found that she failed to brake before the impact, indicating a possible deliberate act to disregard the risk.
In an emotional account, Shelby, Mary Alice Bendick’s daughter, expressed her pain and the loss felt by her family in an interview, "It just feels like a nightmare to see someone one second and talk to them, and get a call a few hours later, and they’re gone," Shelby said, as reported by WPXI News. Illustrating the sudden and tragic nature of the incident that unfolded as her mother was on her way to meet her new grandson.
Richardson faces a slew of charges connected to the fatal incident, including DUI, reckless driving, and involuntary manslaughter. The collision also involved a third vehicle, which sustained only minor damage, and its driver reported no injuries. As this case progresses, the Bendick family awaits to see justice served, "I want to get justice for her, and look this lady in the eye, and tell her to her face what she took not only from our family, but from my dad, and my brothers family, and her friends," Shelby said, as per WPXI News.
