Man apologizes for crash that killed young mom

January 10, 2012 at 8:45a.m.

GRINDSTONE, Pa. (AP) — A southwestern Pennsylvania man whose preliminary hearing was continued in a vehicular homicide case says he’s sorry he fatally struck a young mother who was changing a tire on a roadside late last month.

Police say 40-year-old Donald Lowther was driving drunk when he allegedly struck 21-year-old Kelly Branson’s car as she changed a tire on a narrow road in Redstone Township, Fayette County, about 40 miles south of Pittsburgh. Her husband was also injured in the crash.

Lowther told WTAE-TV he “must have passed out or something” and didn’t mean to kill anyone.

Police said Branson was wearing a fluorescent safety vest and the couple’s car, which was partially on the road, had its hazard lights on.

Lowther remains jailed on $75,000 bail.