Norristown Woman High On Meth, Cocaine In Crash That Killed Baby: DA

NORRISTOWN, PA — A Montgomery County woman was high on multiple drugs when she crashed into a SEPTA bus last fall, killing her 14-month-old son, authorities announced on Monday.

Arbetina Johnson-Lowery, 35, of Norristown has been charged with homicide by vehicle, DUI, and numerous other counts.

The incident occurred back on Set. 30, 2023 at around 2:43 a.m. on Old Arch Road near East Johnson Highway in East Norriton Township.

Johnson-Lowery had cocaine, methamphetamine, and bromazolam (a designer benzodiazepine drug, similar to fentanyl) in her system as she drove with her baby, police said.

She was speeding at about 50 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone when she struck the back of another car, causing her to lose control and slam into the driver's side of the SEPTA bus, according to the joint crash investigation.

Witnesses found the baby lying on the backseat floorboard suffering from severe injuries. He was taken to Suburban Hospital and later flown by helicopter to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where he later died.

Johnson-Lowery was entrapped in the vheicle and needed to be extracted, before being transported to Abington Hospital with serious injuries.

The SEPTA bus driver suffered a knee injury and was treated at Einstein-Montgomery Hospital.

Investigators also found a Newport cigarette box with cocaine and marijuana cigarettes inside the vehicle. They later discovered Johnson-Lowery was driving with a suspended drivers license and suspended vehicle registration.

She turned herself in to police on Jan. 5. Bail was set at $500,000, with the condition that she is not permitted to drive. A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 5.