3 injured, 1 killed after police chase ends in fiery crash on East Carson Street
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Three people were injured and one was killed in a crash on East Carson Street following a police chase.
Officials say the vehicle chase started in McKeesport on Wednesday evening and ended with a fiery crash on the South Side near the FBI's Pittsburgh office.
The chase started in McKeesport but was ended by police before being resumed by officers in Duquesne. The chase was terminated again, but West Homestead police resumed the chase before it ended with the crash.
Pittsburgh police, who weren't involved in the chase, said they were called to a two-vehicle crash on East Carson Street. In one car, two men were taken to the hospital in critical condition. One of them later died. In the other vehicle, two women were injured and were taken to the hospital in stable condition.
Police have not said what led to the chase.
"Normally for pursuits, it should be a forceable felony, where there is a danger, something that just happened and is dangerous," Penn Hills Police Chief Ronald Como said.
Penn Hills police were not involved in the chase but their chief explained pursuit protocol to KDKA-TV. The Allegheny County Chiefs of Police Association and district attorney's office have protocols that include: "Vehicle pursuits for summary, misdemeanor or non-forcible felony offenses are prohibited unless the immediate danger to another person created by the pursuit is less than the immediate or potential danger of death or serious bodily injury to another person should the suspect remain at large and/or continue to flee."
Como said speed is the biggest factor when driving after a suspect.
"You get tunnel vision at times when you're driving so fast that you can't pay attention to what's on your sides, your peripheral vision," Como said over the phone.
Como said speed is monitored by supervisors. At any point, a pursuit can be stopped if needed.
Protocols list several reasons, including time of day, the weather and severity of the crime.
"We monitor the speeds, where they're going, and so forth," Como said
