Teh One Who Knocks
08-13-2012, 05:04 PM
WTAE Action News 4
CHURCHILL, Pa. -
A high-speed chase led to a crash Sunday along Interstate 376 that closed the highway for hours, and the driver is only 14 years old.
State police said the chase began when Penn Hills police saw what they believed was a stolen car. They said the chase had been called off, but the driver still lost control and clipped a car.
Brandon DiGiorgio was driving the car hit by the suspect. He said he saw police lights approaching behind him at Mile Marker 79.5 and thought officers were just trying to pull someone over for speeding until the Jeep Grand Cherokee sideswiped him, hit a guiderail and went airborne.
"I didn't know what was going on. It was crazy," DiGiorgio said.
The driver of the Jeep was thrown about 30 feet from the vehicle and was taken to a hospital. He has not been publicly identified because of his age.
“It was an opportunity that, in a 14-year-old's eyes, was at the perfect time and at the perfect moment,” said the boy’s mother.
She told Channel 4 Action News reporter Amber Nicotra that her son is in a coma in critical but stable condition at UPMC Mercy hospital and will require surgery, especially plastic surgery to the left side of his face.
The boy’s mother said she’s not letting her son off the hook, but feels the owner of the vehicle should have been more responsible.
“I'm not downplaying my son's role in taking something that didn't belong to him, but I am saying they actually left their keys in the car and the vehicle could have been taken by anybody,” she said.
She said she also blames the victim’s boyfriend for following her son and calling police.
“He had no right to chase my son, which it could have been a situation. Maybe it could have been just a joyride down the street. Maybe he wanted to go farther than he felt like walking,” she said.
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Robin Mungo said leaving keys in the car may be irresponsible, but not against the law.
“There is no law that says you cannot keep your keys in your vehicle. Now is that careless? Yes it is, but it is not against the law,” said Mungo.
Police closed the westbound lanes of the Parkway East, which led to a backup that stretched for several miles.
Police said the boy will face charges.
CHURCHILL, Pa. -
A high-speed chase led to a crash Sunday along Interstate 376 that closed the highway for hours, and the driver is only 14 years old.
State police said the chase began when Penn Hills police saw what they believed was a stolen car. They said the chase had been called off, but the driver still lost control and clipped a car.
Brandon DiGiorgio was driving the car hit by the suspect. He said he saw police lights approaching behind him at Mile Marker 79.5 and thought officers were just trying to pull someone over for speeding until the Jeep Grand Cherokee sideswiped him, hit a guiderail and went airborne.
"I didn't know what was going on. It was crazy," DiGiorgio said.
The driver of the Jeep was thrown about 30 feet from the vehicle and was taken to a hospital. He has not been publicly identified because of his age.
“It was an opportunity that, in a 14-year-old's eyes, was at the perfect time and at the perfect moment,” said the boy’s mother.
She told Channel 4 Action News reporter Amber Nicotra that her son is in a coma in critical but stable condition at UPMC Mercy hospital and will require surgery, especially plastic surgery to the left side of his face.
The boy’s mother said she’s not letting her son off the hook, but feels the owner of the vehicle should have been more responsible.
“I'm not downplaying my son's role in taking something that didn't belong to him, but I am saying they actually left their keys in the car and the vehicle could have been taken by anybody,” she said.
She said she also blames the victim’s boyfriend for following her son and calling police.
“He had no right to chase my son, which it could have been a situation. Maybe it could have been just a joyride down the street. Maybe he wanted to go farther than he felt like walking,” she said.
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Robin Mungo said leaving keys in the car may be irresponsible, but not against the law.
“There is no law that says you cannot keep your keys in your vehicle. Now is that careless? Yes it is, but it is not against the law,” said Mungo.
Police closed the westbound lanes of the Parkway East, which led to a backup that stretched for several miles.
Police said the boy will face charges.