An Arnold man was driving under the influence of marijuana when he fatally injured a 75-year-old man in North Braddock in November, according to Allegheny County Police.
County police charged Tyrell Jimmie Knight, 37, with charges including homicide by vehicle and involuntary manslaughter in the death of Harry Harold King of Braddock.
King died at AHN Forbes Hospital after Knight hit him with his car while King was walking on the side of Braddock Avenue on the morning of Nov. 9, according to county police.
There are no sidewalks in the area of Braddock Avenue where King was hit, police said in a criminal complaint against Knight.
A toxicology report police received in February found Knight’s blood tested positive for cannabinoids. In the criminal complaint, police said Knight’s delta-9 carboxy THC level was 34.3 nanograms per milliliter.
Pennsylvania is a zero-tolerance state, so DUI charges can be filed for any amount of THC in a person’s blood, state police spokesman Myles Snyder said. By comparison, Colorado has a permissible limit of 5 nanograms per milliliter.
No alcohol was found in Knight’s blood, the complaint states. Knight was driving while his operating privileges were suspended for driving under the influence of alcohol, and he has previous violations of driving under the influence and driving with suspended or revoked operating privileges.
According to the complaint, North Braddock police officers responding to the call around 8:15 a.m. in the area of Braddock Avenue and O’Connell Boulevard found King lying in the shoulder of the road suffering from numerous injuries. Knight was with his car, which was parked partially on Braddock Avenue about 425 feet away.
From witnesses and evidence at the scene, detectives determined Knight was heading west on Braddock Avenue when his car crossed through the eastbound lane, went over a concrete curb and partially into the grass, hitting King from behind as he was walking west on the eastbound side of the road, police said.
Witnesses reported Knight was driving erratically and at a high rate of speed in the moments leading up to the collision, police said.
Knight was denied bail when he was arraigned Wednesday and sent to the Allegheny County Jail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 17.
