DA says no criminal charges in runaway cylinder death in Oakland that killed Western Psych worker

The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday it will not file criminal charges stemming from a construction accident in Oakland in which a steel cylinder broke loose and killed a woman in 2024.

Aleia Lopez, 51, of the North Side, was struck on May 3, 2024, as she walked in the 3700 block of Terrace Street around 10:40 a.m.

The cylinder, which weighed thousands of pounds, rolled away from the University of Pittsburgh’s new $240 million sports performance center, Victory Heights, as it was being constructed.

Police said the cylinder, nearly as long as a pickup truck, was either knocked over or dislodged from a piece of heavy equipment, rolled down a hill and through a fence. It struck Lopez as she walked with coworkers from UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital.

The cylinder came to rest across the roadway.

Lopez died at the scene.

According to a news release issued by District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr., the incident was investigated by his office, as well as Pittsburgh homicide detectives.

“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,” the release said.

If new evidence is discovered, the decision could be reconsidered, it said.

The three companies involved in the construction — Pittsburgh-based Gilbane Building Co. and Massaro Construction Group and Cheswick-based Costa Construction — had all been previously cited by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

According to a GoFundMe set up for Lopez’ family, she had three children.