Police Chase Suspect Dies Following Head-On Crash In Westmoreland County
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SALEM TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – A police chase suspect has died following a wrong-way head-on collision in Westmoreland County.
A man driving a Ford Focus led Greensburg Police on a chase around 3:15 a.m. The suspect got on Route 66 heading north in the southbound lanes and crashed head-on with a Subaru Crosstrek.
"The driver of the vehicle got onto toll 66 in the southbound lanes going north," Greensburg Police Chief Chad Zucco said. "Once they got on toll 66 they continued behind them with the lights on but they kept a distance behind him. Again, the reason for that was so there would be some kind of notification to oncoming motorists that he was in the wrong lane."
The suspect was initially trapped in his vehicle. He was flown to Westmoreland Hospital, where he later died.
He has since been identified as Jack Bierer Jr., 37, of Greensburg. Police say he has a long criminal history, including drug, DUI, fleeing and reckless driving charges.
KDKA's Amy Wadas Reports:
A woman in the other vehicle was taken to the hospital, but her injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. She is expected to make a full recovery.
State police also spent hours reconstructing the accident scenes so drivers had to find an alternate route during the morning commute.