Man charged in deadly hit-and-run had been drinking in South Side, police say

PITTSBURGH — A man has been charged in connection with a hit-and-run accident that resulted in the death of a 26-year-old woman.

Jessica McChesney was hit on Sunday and was taken to the hospital, where she was initially listed in critical condition. She suffered brain damage and a collapsed lung, and died hours later. %

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Police have charged 21-year-old Kyle O'Connor with causing an accident involving death or personal injury. His arrest was made possible by surveillance video, a witness who came forward and key pieces of evidence from the scene.

“It gives you a sense of relief and somewhat of comfort, but you can't take back what happened,” Kari Kosin, McChesney’s friend, said.

According to court paperwork, O'Connor told police that he freaked out and tried to stop, but couldn’t and went home. %

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“This isn't a dog or cat or squirrel. This is a human being. How are you going to say you don't have the time to stop for a human being?” Kosin said.

Police said O'Connor initially lied about where he was, but later admitted to having at least eight beers while in the South Side. His SUV was found with front-end damage and missing parts behind his apartment, about half of a mile from the scene on the border of Bloomfield and Shady Side.

McChesney was hit while she crossed the intersection of Baum Boulevard and Morewood Avenue. She was leaving a friend’s party.

“When you find out something like that, a piece of you dies. She was such a part of my light inside me and I don't know that I'll ever get that back,” Josh Gilcrest, McChesney’s friend, said.

Channel 11 has learned that Jessica moved to Pittsburgh from Erie in February. She worked at Bechtel Plant in Monroeville.

Cox Media Group