Floodgate network passes full-system test

Pittsburgh’s chronically problematic floodgates on Washington Boulevard in Highland Park passed a fullsystem test early Thursday.

At 4 a.m., city officials closed a portion of Washington Boulevard from Negley Run to Allegheny River boulevards, and at Highland Drive and Lemington Avenue, to check the system of three floodgates and flashing lights meant to deter drivers from entering the flood-prone roadway during heavy and potentially deadly rainstorms.

The roughly 90-minute test was successful, said Emily Schaffer, a Pittsburgh public safety spokeswoman.

Man charged after crash; police find heroin in car

Pittsburgh police found heroin in a car that sped away from them and crashed Wednesday in Carrick, injuring the driver and sending three young children in his car to a hospital, police said Thursday.

The driver was identified as George Johnson-Frye Jr., 28, of the Hill District.

Officers on patrol on Dellrose Street began chasing a silver Hyundai Azera just before 4 p.m. when it failed to use a turn signal at Copperfield Avenue, police said. When police tried to pull the car over in the 1300 block of Brownsville Road, it drove away, ran a stop sign and then crashed into a Chevrolet Cruze, injuring the two occupants.

Police said Mr. JohnsonFrye got out and pulled at a rear door. Officers detained him and found three children, ages 6, 6, and 8, in the vehicle without car seats, police said.

The children, who were reported to be alert and conscious, were taken to a hospital in stable condition.

Police found 12 bundles of heroin on the driver’s-side floorboard, a news release said.

Mr. Johnson-Frye is charged with two dozen offenses.