Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer John Kelty was killed in a streetcar crash on Frankstown Avenue, in front of the old Homewood carbarns between Felicia Avenue and Braddock Avenue. He was returning to his beat after finishing his meal break at his residence only a few blocks away.
The streetcar that Officer Kelty was riding on had stopped at the carbarns so the conductor could make a report. Another streetcar approached down a steep grade and was unable to stop.
Both of Officer Kelty's legs were severed in the collision and he died a short time later after being transported to the East End Hospital. Eleven other citizens were injured in the collision.
Police Officer Kelty served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for 12 years and was assigned to the 6th Police District East End, present day Zone 5 Police Station.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, and eight children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-D7CBBA06- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Kelty gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 12 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Kelty.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer John Graham Kelty is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 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 2.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Graham Kelty's cause is highlighted.
How John Graham Kelty Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John Graham Kelty is highlighted in Jan.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
100 officers from Pittsburgh Bureau of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
