Woman pleads guilty to killing pedestrian in New Florence

An Indiana County woman was sentenced Tuesday to three to 10 years in a state prison for hitting and killing a pedestrian in New Florence.

Melissa Ann Anderson, 53, of East Wheatfield, pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of accidents involving death, driving under the influence and reckless driving in the death of Barry Lynn Cassidy, 61, of New Florence. Prosecutors dismissed a count of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, the most serious charge against her, as part of a plea agreement.

Assistant District Attorney Adam Barr said prosecutors had evidentiary concerns when preparing for trial and the victim’s family signed off on the plea agreement.

“I discussed with them the pros and cons of the plea,” he said.

State police said Cassidy was hit by a Dodge Avenger at 9:15 p.m. May 15, 2023, along 13th Street in front of a Dollar General store. Anderson told police she used heroin just before the crash.

A man who lives a few miles from the Dollar General told police he was picked up by Anderson and a female passenger around 7:45 p.m. The group went to a nearby home and afterward, while the man was riding in the back seat, he heard a loud impact on the passenger side of the windshield, according to court papers.

Anderson stopped the car a short distance away but left and dropped the man off at his home, police said.

Investigators found Anderson near her home, north of Seward, about 8 miles away from the crash scene. The Dodge Avenger, which belonged to Anderson’s neighbor, was parked nearby with a smashed windshield and front-end damage.

She was given credit for time served since May 16, 2023.