James Thomas Blair

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police — Pittsburgh, PA

Veteran → Accident

End of Watch November 26, 1990

Age 45

Tour of Duty 20 yrs 1 mo

The Vigil Panel 136 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 100

Incident

Sergeant James Blair was killed when his motorcycle was struck by a van on Penn Avenue near 30th Street in the Strip District while responding to a non-emergency call. The driver of the van made an illegal lane change to turn onto 30th Street when he struck the sidecar of Sergeant Blair's motorcycle, causing him to lose control of the motorcycle and strike a signal pole. Sergeant Blair was rushed to Mercy Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries several hours later. The 56-year-old driver was charged with vehicular homicide, making an illegal left turn, and two other violations in connection with the incident. Sergeant Blair was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War and served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for 20 years attached to the Traffic Division.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-A05060F0
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. James is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sergeant Blair gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 20 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

Type Federal Agency

Location Pittsburgh, PA

Platform Identity pittpd.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 26, 1990

Tour of Duty 20 yrs 1 mo

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

James Thomas Blair served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Sergeant James Thomas Blair is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In PA, 417 of 1,261 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.1% of this state's fallen. That is 33.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, 38 of 101 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 37.6% of this agency's fallen.

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

of 101 officers

37.6% Accident

PA — Statewide

417

of 1,261 officers

33.1% Accident

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Accident