Woman walking dog hit, killed by SUV driver in McCandless
MCCANDLESS, Pa. (KDKA) — A woman and her dog were hit and killed by the driver of an SUV in McCandless on Tuesday night.
The woman was walking her dog when they were killed at the intersection of Harmony Drive and Highland Road, a public information officer for McCandless said. The woman was flown to a local hospital, where she died. The driver remained at the scene.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the woman as 55-year-old Lara Tebelius. The 5-year-old Sheltie was named Piper.
A neighbor told KDKA that the woman lived at Oxford Court in McCandless for 25 years.
"She took the dog out for her nightly stroll," neighbor Joanne Gallagher said. "Apparently, from what I've heard, the police said she was crossing the road and a car came and didn't see her."
Gallagher talked to the driver of the SUV, who was coming up Highland Road before the crash. Gallagher said the driver told her she did not see the woman and the dog.
"She was very, very upset, very upset," Gallagher said. "Just devastated by the whole thing. I don't know exactly what happened to her."
Police said the crash is under investigation.
Calls for change at deadly McCandless intersection
Several neighbors told KDKA that the intersection where the crash happened is dangerous. They said drivers speed and it's very dark at night. They added that there are no streetlights or sidewalks.
"I'm not a traffic cop, but we've had a number of accidents where people have pulled out and cars have come down and hit them," Gallagher said.
McCandless Councilman Jack Casey posted on Facebook about Tuesday's deadly crash and residents' safety concerns. Casey said the council has been working to make McCandless more walkable by adding sidewalks and replacing traffic lights.
"We are aware of the intersection at Highland and Harmony Drive and have identified it as a priority," he posted. "However, Highland Road is an Allegheny County Road, and they have the final say on any development."
Casey added that the town manager was brought out to see the insection. He said the crash was a tragedy and is voicing his support for more sidewalks in the township.
"We have been and currently are pursuing grant and other funding opportunities to get more sidewalks built for our town, and will continue to do so as this remains a priority," Councilman Nick Giorgetti posted to Facebook.
A spokesperson for Allegheny County Public Works said traffic engineers will study the intersection.
"Before the crash last night, the county had received no reports of any safety concerns for that intersection," the spokesperson said. "We do not have crash data for 2024 yet. During the previous 5 years, there were a total of 6 crashes at the intersection."
