A former Pittsburgh paramedic accused in a deadly South Side crash is trying to knock out a key piece of evidence: a blood-alcohol test that allegedly pegged her at more than three times the legal limit.
At a suppression hearing Monday, defense attorneys argued that the blood draw was the product of coercion in a hospital room, while prosecutors countered with body-worn camera footage they say shows the driver calmly giving consent.
Judge Weighs Blood-Test Fight As Bodycam Rolls In Court
Prosecutors played a video from Pittsburgh police Sgt. Terrence Donnelly’s body camera and walked the court through how he obtained both oral and written permission for a blood draw while the driver was at UPMC Mercy. According to the criminal complaint, that sample later tested at 0.277%.
Sydney Richardson, 35, of Lincoln Place, is charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, DUI, and related traffic offenses. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Jennifer Satler has scheduled a nonjury trial for July 8 and directed both sides to submit legal briefs on the suppression issue within 30 days, according to TribLIVE.
The Crash That Killed A Grandmother
The collision unfolded on March 11, 2024, when authorities say the Dodge Ram pickup Richardson was driving crossed the center line on East Carson Street and slammed into a Mitsubishi SUV. The impact sent the SUV over a guardrail. The driver, 60-year-old Mary Alice Bendick of White Oak, was extricated from the vehicle and later died at the hospital.
Local outlets initially reported the crash and Bendick’s death, and CBS Pittsburgh later identified her and placed the wreck in the 3900 block of East Carson Street. For a recap of how the case first landed in court, see the original homicide-by-vehicle charges.
Defense Calls Consent Coerced, Prosecutors Say It Was Clear
Defense attorney Frank Walker told the court that Richardson’s alleged consent was not truly voluntary, arguing that her signature and statements were given while she lay in a hospital bed wearing a neck brace, visibly upset and crying. He contended that Sgt. Donnelly’s questioning amounted to a custodial interrogation that should have triggered Miranda warnings.
Donnelly testified that he never handcuffed Richardson and that she was not in custody. Prosecutors said the body camera footage shows her acknowledging she understood what a blood test meant before agreeing to it. On the recording, Donnelly tells Richardson, “This is one of those decisions you have to make on your own,” and she responds, “I’m scared,” according to TribLIVE.
What Comes Next In The DUI Homicide Case
Richardson remains in custody at the Allegheny County Jail as the pretrial briefing schedule plays out, and the court currently has a nonjury trial date set for July 8.
Under Pennsylvania’s implied-consent law, anyone arrested for DUI who refuses a chemical test can lose their driver’s license for 12 months. Courts regularly pick apart hospital-room encounters like this one to decide whether a motorist’s consent to testing was truly voluntary. For a deeper dive into how Section 1547 works and when suspensions kick in, see the Commonwealth Court’s discussion on Justia.
