In an update to a tragic incident from last year, the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office announced there will be no criminal charges in the death of Aleia Lopez, a Western Psychiatric Hospital worker struck and killed by a runaway steel cylinder in Oakland. TribLive reported that the decision came after a thorough review by the DA's office and consultation with the victim's family, stating, "Having completed a thorough review and after consulting with the victim’s family, we have determined that this matter is not prosecutable at this time, and no criminal charges will be filed." Lopez was fatally hit by the multi-ton cylinder that rolled from the Victory Heights construction site near the University of Pittsburgh on May 3, 2024.
The construction accident, which occurred on the 3700 block of Terrace Street around 10:40 a.m., involved the cylinder rolling down a hill, breaking through a fence before striking Lopez, who succumbed to her injuries at the scene, despite quick action from emergency services. The enormity of the cylinder's impact left no chance for survival.
CBS News Pittsburgh added that the District Attorney's office confirmed the incident was investigated jointly with Pittsburgh homicide detectives and emphasized that the decision against filing charges could be revisited if new evidence comes to light, but for now, they declined to comment further on the matter.
