A Jeannette man accused of killing a man riding an e-bike in a hit-and-run in Hempfield last year is now in the Westmoreland County Jail.
William Edward Sever, 37, of Jeannette, was denied bail as a flight risk when he was arraigned Friday, according to court records.
Sever is charged with felony counts of accidents involving death or personal injury and the same charge while not licensed, along with a misdemeanor count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and seven summary traffic violations.
State police say Sever was driving a borrowed car when he hit Jayden Lynch, 19, of Jeannette on College Avenue near North Greengate Road around 11 p.m. July 31 and fled, according to court records.
State police used pieces of the car, observations from a Jeannette officer, traffic cameras and license-plate readers to find the damaged car parked on North Third Street in Jeanette.
The car’s owner told police he had loaned his car to Sever, his roommate.
Sever denied involvement but said he had consumed alcohol that night, police said. State police used statements from witnesses, surveillance video and Sever’s cellphone records to place him behind the wheel of the car when it hit Lynch, according to court records.
Lynch was a 2024 Hempfield Area graduate who wanted to go to nursing school. He enjoyed tinkering with electronics, playing video games and riding his e-bike
Sever is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Joseph R. DeMarchis on Feb. 12.
