Man sues bar, driver over brother’s death in DUI crash

John Wobrak was killed in a March 14 accident in Jefferson Hills.

By PAULA REED WARD
TribLive

The brother of a motorcyclist killed in Jefferson Hills in March by an allegedly drunken driver is suing the motorist and the bar that served him that afternoon.

John J. Wobrak, 69, of West Mifflin, was fatally struck in Jefferson Hills on March 14 — just three minutes after driver William G. Haughey Jr. left Beer Belly’s Bar & Grill in West Elizabeth, the lawsuit claims.

Police have charged Haughey, 42, of Jefferson Hills with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and related counts.

Haughey turned himself in to the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 1. He is being held in the Allegheny County Jail without bail.

Haughey was driving a Jeep Gladiator when he struck Wobrak’s Harley-Davidson motorcycle headon around 1:30 p.m. in the 2000 block of Scotia Hollow Road, according to the criminal complaint.

Police said Haughey’s blood alcohol content was 0.14%. The legal limit in Pennsylvania is 0.08%.

The lawsuit, filed in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court by Wobrak’s brother, Stephen C. Wobrak, of Latrobe, alleges negligence, wrongful death, and a dram shop violation against Beer Belly’s, where Haughey was reported to be drinking that afternoon.

Douglas Hathaway, the owner of the bar, on Thursday declined comment.

Lawyer David Shrager, who represents Haughey in his criminal case, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

According to the lawsuit, Haughey was at the bar that afternoon and consumed three vodka and sodas in one hour.

“During this time Defendant Haughey becomes visibly and audibly intoxicated, showing signs of intoxication including but not limited to bloodshot and glassy eyes, pinpoint pupils, and slurred speech,” the lawsuit said.

The complaint alleges that the person serving Haughey noticed he was slurring his words but still allowed him to leave the bar and drive drunk.

As Haughey was driving home on Scotia Hollow Road, the lawsuit continued, he was going at least 20 miles per hour over the posted 35-mph speed limit and crossed the double yellow line on a curve in the road, striking Wobrak.

The lawsuit alleges that Haughey did not hit his brakes or attempt to move back into his own lane.

At the scene, the lawsuit said, Haughey had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol. Police said he was also verbally abusive and shouting profanities on the scene.

He previously pleaded guilty to DUI in 2012 and 2018. In the 2018 case, Haughey was sentenced to three months of house arrest and three years of probation.