OFF THE WIRE
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City officer faces trial in motorcycle crash death
Friday, February 18, 2011 By Sadie Gurman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette An off-duty Pittsburgh police officer who investigators said was drunk when he crashed his motorcycle and killed a woman who was riding with him waived his right to a preliminary hearing today and will stand trial on a string of charges.
Adam Lewis, 28, of Lincoln Place, was charged in December with offenses including homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence, reckless driving and other traffic violations stemming from the deadly crash.
Police said Jessica Lojak, 28, of Fawn, was a rear passenger on Mr. Lewis' Harley-Davidson on Sept. 26, when it slammed into an oncoming sport utility vehicle in Lincoln Place. She died as a result of her injuries.
According to an affidavit supporting Mr. Lewis' arrest, paramedics who took him to a hospital told police they could smell alcohol on his breath, and tests showed his blood-alcohol content was 0.112. The legal limit to drive in the state is 0.08.
Officers who responded to the 1000 block of Mifflin Road just after 2:30 a.m. found both Mr. Lewis and Ms. Lojak seriously injured and lying in the street near the damaged vehicles.
Investigators said the motorcycle crossed over the center line and slid into the opposite lane, where it crashed into a Ford Expedition. Police determined that Mr. Lewis was driving between 42 and 51 mph on a stretch of road where the posted speed limit is 25 mph, the affidavit says.
