Arnold man headed to trial in fatal vehicle-pedestrian crash

A judge on Wednesday ordered an Arnold man to trial on charges he crashed into a 75-year-old pedestrian, killing him, while driving under the influence of marijuana.

Tyrell Jimmie Knight, 37, is charged with homicide by vehicle and involuntary manslaughter in connection with a Nov. 9 incident. He appeared in Pittsburgh Municipal Court before Judge James Hanley.

Allegheny County Assistant District Attorney Kelly Naik called three witnesses to testify.

Nyssa Boyde of Braddock said she was driving to work, headed west, when a maroon car started tailgating her.

“He went into the opposite lane into oncoming traffic to get around me,” Boyde said.

“He lost control of the vehicle. I heard tires screeching.”

Boyde said she saw the body of Harry Harold King, who had been walking along the side of the road, go over the windshield of Knight’s car. After the crash, Knight got out and quickly ran over to where King was laying, Boyde said. Knight told Boyde to call 911.

In February, police received a toxicology report that showed Knight’s blood tested positive for marijuana use.

Allegheny County Police Detective Robert Donovan testified that he was dispatched to the crash scene, where he found King and personal items scattered around the area.

“One shoe went over the chain link fence, and one sock was on the chain link fence,” Donovan said.

King died at AHN Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, according to county police.

On the morning of the accident, police say Knight was driving without a license because it previously was suspended for driving under the influence of alcohol. Knight also had previous violations for driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Knight told police, during an interview at the North Braddock Police Department, that he came to a complete stop at a stop sign before accelerating when he heard a loud noise come from his car.

“Wet roadways can cause loss of control,” Art Ettinger, Knight’s attorney said. Donovan previously noted the incident happened after it had rained.

Allegheny County Police Detective James Fitzgerald testified that Knight told him he lost control of his car when he heard the loud noise and attempted to swerve away from a truck stop but hit the victim instead.

Ettinger, pointed out that Knight cooperated during the interview and that each of the three witnesses described Knight’s behavior as “losing control” rather than reckless behavior.

“They simply have not introduced facts,” Ettinger said, criticizing the prosecution.

Naik retorted that Knight was swerving and driving on the wrong side of the road, while under the influence.

“That’s clearly gross negligence,” Naik said.