Chaos erupted on the streets of Wilkinsburg last night following a multi-vehicle crash that injured nine people, as dispatchers for Allegheny County reported emergency crews rushing to the 1100 block of Penn Avenue shortly after 9 p.m. This large collision ensued when a black SUV, fleeing from Pittsburgh Police after a traffic stop, smashed into four other vehicles. According to WPXI, officers did not engage in pursuit, heeding the department's strict pursuit policy.
Pittsburgh police confirmed that while nine individuals were evaluated or treated by EMS, only five needed hospitalization. Pittsburgh Councilman Khari Mosley, having visited the scene, noted the absence of a police chase before the catastrophic incident occurred, with Pittsburgh Police later locating the crash site.
Video from the scene captured by Pittsburgh's Action News 4 showed the disarray at the intersection of Penn Avenue and East Swissvale Avenue, with several police cars and ambulances in attendance. Amidst the chaos, some details came to light regarding the sequence of events that led to the pile-up. The black SUV in question was spotted charging across a red light and colliding with another vehicle, which was navigating the intersection, according to a witness. "I see the Durango come flying from across the street. It's a red light that he was about to cross. I see the Honda coming just across the street like normal, going eastbound on Penn. He hits the Honda, and I guess that's when he flipped, because then he went careening into the Kia that was immediately to my right, which got knocked back into the Impala behind it," witness Jarred Reccek detailed in an interview reported by WTAE.
The aftermath of the crash brought Wilkinsburg police and the ATF to the scene. While the identity of the driver has not been disclosed, Pittsburgh police have indicated that charges are imminent.
