Plum police are seeking the identity of the driver of a light-colored pickup truck involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident Monday night on Saltsburg Road. William Reich Jr., 84, of Whitehall, was killed when struck from behind by the pickup truck at 9:21 p.m. after he left the Maurice L. Knee Funeral Home. He was hit as he walked down the driveway and tried to cross the two-lane road to get his car, which was parked at S&T Bank. Reich was pronounced dead at the scene 9:39 p.m. by Plum Emergency Medical Services, according to the Allegheny County Coroner's Office. The cause of death was trauma to the head, neck and trunk. The impact was so severe that Reich's wristwatch, eyeglasses, a shoe and a sock were spread across an area of about 30 feet, said Plum police Chief Terry Focareta. 'Accidents do happen, but the failure to stop and render assistance is totally unacceptable,' Focareta said. The death is being treated as a homicide. Allegheny County Homicide detectives also are investigating. This is the second time Reich had been struck by a car, police said. The first time, about 14 years ago, happened on Brownsville Road in front of St. Sylvester's Church when someone ran a red light, a relative said. At the time, doctors were not sure they could save his legs, but Reich recovered, even though he was injured seriously enough to have a handicapped license plate issued by the state. The parking lot of the Knee Funeral Home was packed with cars Monday night, making it necessary for Reich to park across the road. Reich and his wife Esther, 87, were attending the viewing of Esther Reich's brother-in-law. Reich's daughter Gerry O'Connor attended the viewing with her parents. She said Reich had gone to get his car at the parking lot across the street while she and her mother waited inside. She then heard the cries that someone had been hit by a car and, when she went outside, discovered it was her father. She then had to go inside and break the news to her mother, Reich's wife of almost 50 years. 'She's doing pretty well, but I think she's still in shock,' O'Connor said. O'Connor said her parents enjoyed an active lifestyle, keeping up with their 27 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. The two had just spent Friday evening dancing, O'Connor said. In addition, the Reichs enjoyed attending baseball games and were getting ready to buy tickets for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra this fall. And when Esther Reich began to have trouble walking, it was her husband who cared for her. 'I know she's going to miss his help. He really took care of her,' O'Connor said. Reich also was active in the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Elks Club on Buttermilk Hollow Road. O'Connor said this was the second marriage for both William and Esther Reich. They met in the 1950s at a widows-widowers club meeting. Esther brought her seven children, including O'Connor, to the union, while William brought three children of his own. 'He took on this family, and I know he never thought anything of it. He had three children of his own who were raised well. He was a very good man.' O'Connor said she and her family called Reich 'St. Bill.' 'He was always trying to help,' she said. 'He was just so good-hearted, I'm sure he's gone straight to heaven.' Police, meanwhile, are continuing their investigation of the hit-and-run. 'We're depending on the public to call with any thoughts or ideas of who in the area has a light-colored, possibly white, pickup truck with a cap ... or who may have been traveling in Plum on Monday night,' Focareta said. 'Any information provided will be helpful to the investigation.' The stretch of Saltsburg Road where the death occurred is not known for accidents, police said. 'There's no line-of-sight issues there, and there were no adverse conditions of rain or fog (Monday) night,' Focareta said. In addition to his wife, Reich is survived by his children, Bill Reich Jr., Rich Reich, Diane Reich, Esther Makar, O'Connor, Tom Cooper, Frank Cooper, John Cooper, Steve Cooper and Meg Brindle; 27 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by five brothers and sisters: Jean Caruso, Betty Breisinger, Jerry Reich, Ron Reich and Melora Kielarowski. John Slater Funeral Home in Brentwood is handling funeral arrangements, which are still pending. Rose A. Domenick can be reached at rdomenick@tribweb.com or (412) 380-8521. Maggi Newhouse can be reached at mnewhouse@tribweb.com or (412) 306-4535.

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