Truck driver dies after several wrecks

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A man died Saturday when he crashed his pickup truck in Wilkinsburg minutes after wrecking into the back of a Penn Hills police cruiser and three other vehicles, Penn Hills police Chief Howard Burton said.

The initial crash occurred shortly after 9:30 p.m. near the intersection of Verona and Frankstown roads in Penn Hills, according to Allegheny County emergency officials.

Chief Burton said a Penn Hills cruiser was at that intersection behind other cars when a pickup truck crashed into the back of the cruiser, causing heavy damage.

The pickup truck went on to hit three vehicles ahead of the police cruiser in traffic, he said.

The police officer tried to chase the pickup truck, but his cruiser was too badly damaged, according to Chief Burton.

“The rear end was so bad he couldn’t make it go,” the chief said of the cruiser.

Chief Burton said the officer complained of some head and neck pain, but he described the injuries as minor. The officer was taken to a hospital as a precaution.

Passengers in the other vehicles the pickup hit were being evaluated at the scene by medics, but they did not appear to suffer any serious injuries, according to the chief.

The man driving the pickup truck continued into Wilkinsburg, where he crashed near the intersection of Swissvale Avenue and Park Hill Drive, county officials said.

The driver was killed, according to Chief Burton.

He said it was unclear where the pickup truck had come from and why it was being driven in an erratic manner.