Traffic Blotter: Accidents in Richland Township

The following accidents occurred in Richland Township.

Three Cars Collide in Front of Post Office

A vehicle trying to cross over Route 910 from the Gibsonia Post Office to the Sunoco parking lot about 2 p.m. June 3 did not quite make it, according to a police report.

The 1998 Dodge Caravan that Stephanie Knapp, 28, of Marshfield, WI, was driving struck another vehicle that she said she did not see approaching, police said.

That 1993 GMC Sierra 1500 that Brian Hill, 50, of Allison Park was driving had just crossed over Route 8 and was traveling west on Route 910 when his vehicle was struck, police said.

Hill told police that the force of the impact made his vehicle rotate and strike another vehicle that was stopped in the opposite lane, the report states.

Robert Grunden Jr., 41, of Gibsonia told police the impact moved his 2006 Chevrolet several feet sideways, according to the report.

Hill’s vehicle was towed, police said.

Vehicle Does Not Stop After Hitting Another on Route 8

Jane Small, 60, of Pittsburgh was heading north on Route 8/William Flinn Highway at 11:30 a.m June 3 when a vehicle entering the road from the Bakerstown ramp struck her vehicle and kept going, police said.

Small said she pulled off the road just north of the intersection, police said. In her mirror, she saw the other vehicle – described as an older maroon or burgundy full-size car – turn and head south, the police report said.

Damage to Small’s 1999 Mercury Sable began at the right front door and extended to the rear wheel well, police said.

Woman Fails to Negotiate Curve

Agnes F. Walsh, 85, of Gibsonia failed to negotiate a left curve as she traveled west on Route 910/Gibsonia Road at 5:30 p.m. May 30, police said.

Her 2003 Nissan proceeded straight and went over a slight embankment, striking the Dickey Road street sign and propelling the broken sign post into another vehicle's driver’s side door, police said.

Julie Stedeford, 48, of Gibsonia, was driving that 2009 Chrysler and was stopped at the Dickey Road stop sign, police said.

West Deer EMS evaluated Walsh, but she declined treatment, the report said. No other injuries were reported.

Woman Taken to Hospital After Accident

A Gibsonia woman was taken to UPMC Passavant after a May 27 accident on Turner Road, police said.

Stephanie Ricart, 59, was traveling toward Route 910/Gibsonia Road when the noon accident occurred, police said.

“As she came around the bend, traffic was backed up. She tried to avoid the vehicles in front of her and turned into the embankment,” according to the police report. “Her vehicle then rolled onto its left side. The vehicle then struck [another vehicle].”

That vehicle was a 2006 Honda Element that Turner Johnson, 26, of Renfrew was driving, said police.

Members of the Richland Township Volunteer Fire Department and Richland Township EMS freed Ricart from the wreckage, the report states.

Tom Henry Chevrolet towed her 1999 Dodge Avenger .

Dump Truck Knocks Down Pole on Route 8

A dump truck working with the paving crew at 11:30 p.m. May 24 on Route 8 knocked down a large aluminum pole onto the road, police said.

Jeffrey Welsh, 43, of Rochester was driving the 2007 Peterbilt on Route 8 near Grandview Crossings Drive with the dump part fully extended in the air when it struck overhead traffic direction signs attached to the pole, police said.

“[Welsh] stated that he believed the dump on the truck was down before he proceeded south on Route 8,” according to the police report.

Workers from Lane Construction were able to respond with a backhoe and move the utility pole to the side of the road, police said.

Truck Swerves to Miss Vehicle Turning into Richland Mall

A 2006 International 8600 that Vitran Express of Gibsonia owns swerved May 27 to avoid colliding with another car on North Pioneer Road and demolished a mailbox, a police report said.

Raymond Zimmerman, 54, of Gibsonia was driving the truck and was traveling north at about 7:15 p.m. when an approaching car swerved wide left to turn into Richland Mall’s access road, the report states.

Zimmerman “had to swerve hard to the right to avoid colliding with the unknown vehicle [and]… struck a mailbox and utility pole,” police said. No major damage was noted on the utility pole, but the mailbox was destroyed, said police.

“The unknown vehicle proceeded up into the mall lot without stopping,” the report stated.

Runaway Milk Truck Crashes Into Garage

A Marburger Farm Dairy truck that was parked in front of a Haymont Drive home at 4 a.m. May 26 turned into a runaway vehicle that took out three mailboxes and shrubbery before it crashed into a detached garage, according to police.

The driver, Terrence Beining, 48, of Butler had stopped in front of 226 Haymont Drive, set the brake and gone to the residence to make a delivery, the police report states.

“When he was returning to the truck he noticed it begin to coast forward in a southbound direction,” police said.

The truck “traveled off the east side of the roadway and impacted mailboxes in the order of 228 Haymont, 230 Haymont and 236 Haymont prior to veering to the left and traveling through the yard and impacting the detached garage of 248 Haymont Drive,” the report states.

“When it impacted the detached garage it did severe damage to the structure. The impact also caused items inside the garage to become displaced. Some of these items impacted two other vehicles, which were parked in the garage. These vehicles are a 2010 Chevrolet … and a 2000 Chevrolet Corvette … Damage to these vehicles appeared to be minor,” the report continues.

Oak’s Auto Truck Service towed the truck and was advised to perform a safety inspection on the truck prior to releasing it, the report said.

Mercedes-Benz Towed After Accident in Northtowne Square

A 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL 550 had to be towed May 22 after another vehicle slid into it at the Route 910 entrance/exit to the Northtowne Square, police said.

Nicholas Demas, 19, of Gibsonia  “stated he entered the Northtowne Square Shopping Center a little too fast and slid into [the Mercedes-Benz],” according to the police report. Demas was driving a 1996 Acura Integra, said police.

William Rosemeyer, 47, of Gibsona said “he was exiting the shopping center when [the Acura] came in way too fast and slid into the rear of his vehicle,” the report said.

Tom Henry Chevrolet towed the vehicle.

Two Vehicles Collide on Community Center Drive

Two vehicles collided at about 8:15 p.m. May 16 on Community Center Drive, police reported.

Barry Boyer, 55, of Gibsonia was driving a 1993 Chrysler New Yorker when he pulled out of a driveway onto Community Center Drive and into the path of another car, police said.

Boyer’s vehicle collided with a 2000 Honda Odyssey that Candace Tierno, 47, of Gibsonia was driving, according to the police report.

Girl Sent to Hospital After Collision on Route 8

A 17-year-old girl from Gibsonia was transported to the hospital after she pulled out of a parking lot on Route 8/William Flynn Highway about 4:15 p.m. May 11 and into the path of another vehicle, according to a police report.

The 2004 Ford Escape the girl was driving was hit as she was turning left from the parking lot at 5360 William Flynn Highway, according to the police report. Her vehicle continued across the road and struck a cement retaining wall before coming to a stop, the report said.

James West, 41, of Allison Park was travelling north in his 2005 Ford Windstar when the vehicle pulled out in front of him and he was unable to avoid the collision, police said.

Hampton EMS transported the girl to the hospital, and Rudolph Auto Repair towed her vehicle, said police.

Tire Comes Off Cadillac as it Travels on Walmart Drive

Virginia Lawrence, 69, of Valencia was driving down the hill on Walmart Drive May 5 when the left front wheel of her 1992 Cadillac Fleetwood came off, rolled down the hill and struck the front of another car, police said.

Robert White Jr., 68, of Allison Park was stopped at the McDonald’s exit on Walmart Drive when the tire struck his 2008 Buick Opel, said police.

No injuries were reported.

Rudolph Auto Repair towed the Cadillac to the driver’s house, police said.

Driver Charged with Careless Driving

Collin Ryan, 18, of Gibsonia was charged with careless driving May 5 after running into a parked car on Route 910/Gibsonia Road at about 11:30 p.m., police said.

Ryan entered a guilty plea and paid $117 in court fees, according to court documents.

He was traveling west on Gibsonia Road when he failed to properly negotiate a curve in the road and then oversteered, the police report said.

Ryan’s vehicle ran into the front passenger side of a 2006 Ford Focus that Walter Dennis John of Gibsonia owned, which was legally parked on the north side of Gibsonia Road near the intersection with Gibson Road, police said.

The driver's side of the Ford Focus was pushed into a tree, police said.

Ryan’s 2002 Toyota Highlander then hit a mailbox before coming to rest in the intersection of Gibsonia Road and Grubbs Road, police said.

Rudolph Auto Repair towed both vehicles, police said.

Richland Mall Exit Road Is Scene of Accident

Two vehicles collided April 29 on the short road that connects the Richland Mall parking lot with South Pioneer Road, police said.

A 2004 Dodge Stratus that Taylor R. Sharkey, 20, of Gibsonia was driving was traveling north in the mall parking lot, approaching the T-intersection of the South Pioneer entrance/exit road, police said.

Natalie Studer, 50, of Allison Park was traveling on the entrance/exit road in a 2005 Ford Taurus when Sharkey made a right turn to exit the mall lot and failed to properly negotiate the curve of the road, the police report states.

Sharkey’s vehicle traveled into the path of Studer’s Ford Taurus, “causing an opposite direction/sideswipe impact,” police said.

Both drivers refused medical attention. Tom Henry Chevrolet had to tow the Ford Taurus.

Mercedes-Benz Towed After Collision on Route 8

A 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 had to be towed April 21 after the 17-year-old driver from Wexford pulled onto Route 8/William Flynn Highway and collided with another vehicle, police said.

The Mercedes-Benz was stopped on the Bakerstown Road southbound ramp about 9:30 p.m. before it moved onto Route 8 and collided with a 1999 Honda Civic that Matthew Correll, 30, of Beaver was driving, the police report stated.