Police: Medical Issue May Be To Blame For Overnight Pursuit
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EMSWORTH, Pa. (KDKA) -- Police believe it was a medical emergency that caused a car to be driven erratically and nearly cause an accident on Route 65 Tuesday morning.
Officials say the police pursuit began around 3:15 a.m. and lasted for about seven miles from Leetsdale to Emsworth. The driver was traveling the wrong way on Route 65.
Police eventually put down spike strips to get her to stop.
Leetsdale Police say an officer on patrol on Route 65 noticed the red SUV near Ambridge early Tuesday morning.
"An officer was on patrol, traveling southbound, observed that vehicle traveling southbound, at which point it jumped the median and was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes into oncoming traffic," said Chief Daniel Raible, of the Leetsdale Police Department.
Chief Raible added, "Speeds at this point were unknown, to where Ohio Township was able to deploy spike strips and get the vehicle stopped at 65 and Camp Horne Road in Emsworth."
With a flattened tire, the driver pulled into a gas station at the intersection of Ohio River Boulevard and Camp Horne Road.
The woman and her husband, who was the passenger in the SUV, were both taken to the hospital. Police aren't sure what kind of medical emergency the driver may have experienced.
Both the man and woman were using walkers.
"The female was transported to the hospital for a possible evaluation - medical," said Chief Raible. "We do not believe that this incident is a DUI at this point, but we are looking into it for further investigation. State Route 65 is a highly traveled roadway. Fortunately, as you said, it was early in the morning. Traffic was light."