Heidi Christopher knows exactly how long it’s been since her father was killed driving his motorcycle in Downtown Pittsburgh: 640 days.
That’s how she measures time now as she grieves the man who helped her raise her children, who provided unconditional love, who had spent nearly 21 years sober and used his time and passion for life to give back to the community.
Her dad, James “JC” Christopher, was struck around 8:45 a.m. on July 14, 2024.
He was driving a Harley-Davidson motorcycle on Grant Street at the intersection of the Boulevard of the Allies when a Ford F-150 pickup truck struck him after going through a red light.
Christopher, 67, of Pittsburgh, died a few hours later at UPMC Mercy.
Amy Robinson, 47, of Waynesburg, who was initially charged with homicide by vehicle, pleaded guilty in January to one count of involuntary manslaughter, as well as reckless driving.
On Wednesday, Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Randal B. Todd ordered Robinson to serve five years probation with the first eight months on electronic home monitoring.
He also ordered a $300 fine, and she faces a suspension of her driver’s license through the state, as well.
Surveillance cameras at the scene that morning showed Robinson’s traffic light had been red for about nine seconds before the crash, according to the criminal complaint. And the event data recorder in her truck showed Robinson didn’t hit the brakes until just before impact.
Police said she was traveling at or under the 25-mph speed limit.
“This was so very preventable,” Christopher told the court. “My dad always said, ‘what are people in such a rush for?’
“Her rush cost my father his life.”
But Robinson, who works for the Central Greene School District, told the judge she was not going anywhere in a hurry.
“I was not speeding. I was not drunk,” she said before he imposed sentence. “I was not in a rush. I wasn’t on my phone.”
Remembering ‘Pappy’
James Christopher was an avid motorcyclist and a devoted family man, his loved ones said.
“He taught us how to live and love this life,” his daughter said. “I’m stuck now. It’s as if my heart won’t accept what reality is now.”
Hailey Haun, the victim’s granddaughter, said the death of “Pappy” has destroyed her family’s sense of safety.
She described him as goofy, who always made them laugh, and knew how to make things better.
Christopher, Haun told the court, was one day shy of 21 years sober.
He was proud of that accomplishment and paid the community back, she said, by hosting Narcotics Anonymous meetings and being a sponsor to many other people.
For years Christopher also organized an annual blanket and coat drive, recruiting friends and family to cook holiday meals, package them and deliver them to the homeless community, his best friend, Dennene Kappel told the court.
“He loved helping people.”
Survivor’s guilt
The defense presented just one witness — Robinson’s husband, Lee Robinson.
He told the court that he has spent the time since the crash trying to help his wife cope with survivor’s guilt.
He turned to the Christopher family and apologized.
“I know words fall short, but my wife and I have prayed for you throughout this miserable process,” he said.
Lee Robinson told the judge that his wife’s faith has been fractured since the crash, and she struggles often.
“Amy’s a good woman,” he said.
No excuses
When it was her turn to speak before being sentenced, Robinson began by turning to face those gathered on Christopher’s behalf, crying as she apologized.
“I want to say how really sorry I am for your family’s loss,” she began. “Please consider this was a horrible accident, and I am deeply remorseful.
“I never meant to hurt anyone.”
As she continued, Robinson said she prays for the Christopher family that they can heal and said that she has sought therapy and counseling from her pastor.
“It’s such a heavy burden to carry,” she said. “I will forever carry the guilt for this accident.”
Robinson said she had left plenty of time that morning to get her 12-year-old daughter and her friend to a volleyball camp at the University of Pittsburgh.
They had even stayed the night at her older daughter’s apartment near Duquesne University to make the commute to the camp easy, Robinson said.
“There was absolutely no intent to run a red light,” she continued.
“But you did,” the judge said, cutting her off. “And a man’s dead now.”
Todd told Robinson he did not want to hear excuses, that she had already pleaded guilty to the crime and there was no reason to rehash it.
Then addressing Christopher’s family, he said he was limited in how severely he could sentence Robinson given that she pleaded to a misdemeanor.
“There’s nothing I can do to make this right.”