Thursday night turned grim in Pitcairn after a woman was struck by a vehicle and left in critical condition, police said. First responders found her lying in the roadway on Broadway Boulevard and rushed her to a nearby hospital, while the driver took off and vanished into the night. Borough and county investigators locked down the stretch of road with a perimeter as they combed the scene for evidence.
According to the Allegheny County Police Department, the homicide unit was called in to assist with the pedestrian crash shortly after 9 p.m., after county dispatch received reports of a vehicle hitting a pedestrian in the 400 block of Broadway Boulevard. First responders found the woman on the street and transported her to the hospital, where she remained in critical condition, as reported by CBS Pittsburgh.
Video from the aftermath showed yellow crime-scene tape sealing off Broadway Boulevard and a large police presence working under the streetlights. WTAE reported that the crash happened around 9:40 p.m. Early in the investigation, authorities said they believe the woman was hit by a light-colored sedan, but no suspect or vehicle description beyond that has been publicly released.
What police are asking
Allegheny County police are urging anyone who might know something about the hit-and-run to call the County Police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS (1-833-255-8477). Tipsters can remain anonymous. Investigators are also asking residents and businesses along Broadway Boulevard to check their doorbell, dashboard, or surveillance cameras from Thursday night, in case they captured the vehicle or driver, according to CBS Pittsburgh.
Legal note
Under Pennsylvania law, any driver involved in a crash that causes injury or death is required to stop, stay at the scene, and provide aid. Leaving instead can bring serious criminal charges under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3742. The statute, available on the Pennsylvania General Assembly website, spells out a driver’s duties and the penalties for fleeing after a serious crash.
