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Judge deliberates on case of retired Pittsburgh firefighter accused in fatal hit-and-run

PITTSBURGH — The trial for a retired Pittsburgh city firefighter accused of causing a fatal hit-and-run accident went to the judge for a verdict on Thursday.

David Anderson, 65, allegedly struck Gregory Simpson in December 2015 at the intersection of Seabright Street and Street Extension in Perry South with his pickup truck and drove off.

Simpson initially survived but died six weeks later.

Simpson's daughter took the stand, testifying that she heard the crash that severely injured her father and was so upset she couldn’t bear to look.

Anderson’s attorney spent part of Thursday morning’s testimony trying to poke holes in Ashley Simpson’s testimony, questioning her for several minutes on exactly what time she heard the crash.

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Anderson did not take the stand in his own defense.

Anderson’s lawyer put up only one witness: an expert in accident reconstruction who told the court that, based on how Simpson was found in the street, he was not hit by a truck – especially Anderson’s truck – but by a car.

In his closing argument, Anderson’s attorney said the commonwealth’s only witness to the accident was unable to identify Anderson in a photo array.

The prosecution fired back, using Anderson’s own words to police about that night when he admitted to having three drinks at a bar before driving home – a trip he doesn’t remember, he said during a recorded statement – because he said he suffers from blackouts.

“After a few drinks, I don’t know what happens,” he said.

“So you don’t recall how your truck got damaged, how it was damaged?” a detective asked him.

“No,” he replied.

Judge Jeffrey A. Manning said he will deliver a verdict on Wednesday morning.

 

Cox Media Group

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