Man In Custody After Fleeing Traffic Stop On I-279, Sparking North Side Search
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A man is facing DUI and other charges after fleeing from police trying to pull him over on I-279 overnight, crashing his truck and running from the scene, sparking a search on the city's North Side.
According to state police, it all started around 3:50 a.m. when troopers tried to pull over a silver-colored Dodge pickup truck on I-279 near the Perrysville exit.
Authorities say the driver, identified as 40-year-old David Bilicic of Pittsburgh, got off at the Perrysville exit instead of stopping, went through a stop sign and got back on the highway going southbound.
A little further down, the truck went off the road just before the East Street exit, and tried to drive up an embankment.
Bilicic and a woman got out and ran.
Pittsburgh, Ross Township and West View police, along with K-9s, were all called in to assist.
Bilicic fled towards Grizella and Montana streets, kicking off a search in that area.
Nancy Uebing lives in the Perry North section of Pittsburgh that sits above the highway.
"I heard voices, so I looked out my window and saw nine police cars blocking the whole area from Montana down in front of my house," she said. "It's a little scary. You don't know whose out there really, or who they're looking for."
State police say Ross Township Police K-9 Neeko and his handler helped to locate Bilicic and take him into custody.
The woman who was with Bilicic in the truck ran across across two lanes of traffic on I-279 and disappeared into a wooded area. She is still at large, and anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to notify State Police.
Bilicic is facing charges of DUI, fleeing and eluding, possession and other traffic offenses.