By Michael Hasch

Published: Friday, January 18, 2013, 12:01 a.m.
Updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2013

A former Allegheny County Police officer was arrested Friday morning and charged in a hit-and-run accident that killed a pedestrian in McKeesport.

Timothy Tatters Sr., 64, of White Oak is in the county jail waiting arraignment, county police said. Tatters retired from the force in 1993, police said.

Investigators took the Jeep Cherokee that authorities believe struck Lorraine Wilkes, 56, of McKeesport in the 600 block of Lysle Boulevard between 4 a.m. and 4:33 a.m. Wednesday, not far from her home.

Wilkes was taken to UPMC Mercy and died about three hours later from multiple injuries of her head, trunk and extremities, a spokesman for the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office said.

Investigators — who said Wilkes was about 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighed about 320 pounds — said that Tatters told them he thought he hit a dog.

McKeesport police were called at 4:33 a.m. Wednesday for a report of a woman down on the sidewalk near the Sunoco station.

“The victim was thrown onto the sidewalk near a flower (or) mulch bed. This may have impeded passersbys' ability to see her,” county police Lt. Andrew Schurman said.

Thomas Tatters Sr. said county police questioned his father for about five hours on Wednesday and examined his Jeep Cherokee before towing it from the family's home for further examination.

Tatters said his father was a county police officer for more than 21 years and worked at various locations throughout the county, including South Park and Pittsburgh International Airport.

Residents on Lysle Boulevard said Wilkes was a client of Mon Yough Community Services.

“Due to state licensing regulations, I can't confirm or deny whether she was or not,” MYCS risk manager James Andrews said. “We have spoken to police. The program is cooperating with police in their investigation.”

Michael Hasch is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Staff writer Jennifer R. Vertullo contributed to this report.

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