Man To Stand Trial In Bloomfield Fatal Hit-&-Run
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A man facing charges stemming from a fatal hit-and-run in Bloomfield last month appeared in court on Wednesday.
Kyle O'Connor, 21, walked out of city court alongside his family without saying a word. He's charged with accidents involving death or personal injury, a second-degree felony.
"Leaving the scene of an accident was graded a felony of the third degree when the city of Pittsburgh police filed the charges. I knew going in that was improper grading and they were going to fix it when we got here, and that's what they did," O'Connor's attorney, Robert Mielnicki, said.
O'Connor is accused of hitting Jessica McChesney at the end of June near the intersection of Baum Boulevard and Morewood Avenue in Bloomfield around 2:30 a.m.
Police say he fled the scene but his banged up car was tracked down a few days later with the help of a witness and surveillance video.
During questioning, O'Connor allegedly admitted to drinking in the South Side that night after leaving work at the Fox Chapel Yacht Club.
"I have handled many DUI cases over 24 and a half years. He simply wasn't drunk," Mielnicki said. "My preliminary indications are that the accident was unavoidable, anotherwords, it wasn't his fault, but he left the scene apparently."
Police say O'Connor told them McChesney ran into road when he hit her. He got scared and drove home.
"He's undergoing a lot of grief. This is just tragic the whole way around," Mielnicki said.
McChesney's boyfriend, J.T. Seelman, spoke to KDKA right after the accident happened.
"I know there's going to be a lot of ups and downs. We just have to push toward to a path of forgiveness and know he made a huge mistake," Seelman said.
"It's just tragic all the way around," Mielnicki said.
O'Connor's formal arraignment is scheduled at the courthouse downtown on Sept. 13 at 9 a.m.
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