Traffic Blotter: Busy Routes Are Often Scenes of Rear-End Collisions

Traffic accidents have lots of causes and patterns. The following reports involve a vehicle running into the back of another, usually on one of Pine-Richland’s much-traveled roadways –- Routes 8, 19 and 910.

Three-Car Chain Reaction at Route 8 and Grandview Drive 

A three-car chain reaction was reported at 1:30 p.m. June 5 at the intersection of Route 8 and Grandview Drive, police report.

Virginia Helgerman, 62, of Gibsonia “stated that she was approaching the traffic signal on Route 8 at Grandview Drive in a line of traffic when her foot slipped off of the brake pedal,” police said.

Her 2003 Pontiac Vibe struck the rear of a 2008 Buick Lacrosse driven by Connie Thiebaud, 61, of Dubois, police said. It was pushed into the rear of a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox driven by John Wagner, 64, of Allison Park, according to the report.

Vehicle Runs into Back of Another Vehicle

Two vehicles that were trying to merge onto Route 19/Perry Highway from Church Road in Pine Township about 1 p.m. June 3 ended up in a collision, police said.

Jose Dealmeida, 59, of Pittsburgh was stopped at the Church Road stop sign at the intersection with Route 19, police said.

A 2001 Ford Expedition driven by Mary White, 72, of Sewickley was behind him, police said.

White pulled forward and her vehicle’s front passenger side hit the rear driver side corner of Dealmeida’s 2010 Chrysler Town & Country, police said. White told police she pulled forward because she felt the other vehicle had pulled out onto Perry Highway, according to the police report.

Truck Crashes Into Back of Jeep

A truck ran into the back of a Jeep on May 27 at the intersection of Route 910/Gibsonia Road and Turner Road in Richland Township, police said.

A 2007 International 4300 truck driven by Ronald Conley, 41, of Sharpsburg ran into the back of the Jeep that was stopped on Route 910 for a red traffic light at about 5:30 p.m., according to a police report.

The 2008 Jeep Patriot was driven by Stephen McWilliams, 32, of Gibsonia, the report said.

Police said Conley did not see the Jeep in time to stop.

Accident Reported at Route 19-Brooktree Road Intersection

A two-vehicle accident was reported about 3 p.m. May 24 at the intersection of Route 19/Perry Highway and Brooktree Road in Pine Township, police reported.

Carlee Fleeson, 19, of Ambridge was traveling south on Route 19 in a 2005 Ford truck F-150 when traffic stopped and Fleeson ran into the back of a 2011 Subaru Forester driven by Robert Schoeber, 39, of Allison Park, according to a police report.

Hyundai Accent Towed After Collision

A 2007 Hyundai Accent driven by Devin Greig, 20, of Mercer ran into the back of another vehicle about 1:30 p.m. May 21 as both were heading south on Route 19/Perry Highway in Pine Township, according to a police report.

That vehicle was driven by Michael Krebs, 54, of Evans City, who had stopped his 2009 Suzuki SX4 because of stacked traffic in front of him, the report said.

Greig’s Hyundai Accent was towed by John B Lombardo's Complete Collision Inc. because of severe front-end damage, police said.

Wexford Volunteer Fire Co. was at the site for fluid containment.

Vehicle Crashes into Back of Another at Route 19 - Wallace Road Intersection

A 1995 Plymouth Acclaim driven by Dylan McCole, 19, of Valencia had to be towed May 21 after it ran into the back of another vehicle in Pine Township, according to a police report.

Paul Boeh, 62, of Pittsburgh was stopped at a red light on Route 19/Perry Highway at about 5:15 p.m. when his 2007 Honda Odyssey was hit, police said.

The Plymouth Acclaim was towed by John B Lombardo's Complete Collision Inc.

Mazda Runs Into Back of Mercedes-Benz

A 2003 Mazda driven by Bethany McKinney, 20, of Bakerstown ran into the back of another vehicle at about 10 a.m. May 16 on the Bakerstown Road southbound ramp to Route 8 in Richland Township, police said.

A 2006 Mercedes Benz driven by Foo Tack Lee, 77, of Gibsonia was stopped on the ramp, waiting to merge onto Route 8/ William Flynn Highway when it was hit, said police.

Three Vehicles Involved in Chain Reaction

Three vehicles were involved in a chain-reaction accident about 5:45 p.m. May 9 on Route 910 near ESB Bank in Wexford, police said.

It started with Michael Hart, 43, of Wexford ,who was driving his 2010 Toyota Venza east on Route 910 when he was distracted by another driver and rear-ended a second vehicle stopped in traffic, police said.

The second vehicle, a 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid, was driven by James Antell, 55, of South Burlington, VT, said police.

That car then ran into the back of a 2010 Ford Mustang driven by Robert Schultz, 29, of Wexford, police said.

Two drivers and a passenger complained of minor pains, but did not ask for an ambulance to be called, the police report said.

Acura Runs Into Back of Pickup Truck

A 2010 Acura TSX driven by Christine Wohleber, 60, of Wexford drove into the back of another vehicle May 5 on Route 19/Perry Highway in Pine Township, police said.

She struck a 2010 Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by Eric Kress, 37, of Fombell, which was stopped at a red light at the Bradford Road intersection with Route 19, police said.

Chain-Reaction Accident on Route 19 Near North Chapel Drive

A 2006 Nissan Pathfinder driven by Christopher Winkler, 33, of Ambridge had to be towed May 3 after it ran into another car, which bumped into a third car, according to a police report.

Winkler told police he was traveling north on Route 19 near North Chapel Drive  and tried to stop for traffic that was stopped in front of him, the report said.

But his vehicle ran into a 2010 Subaru Forester driven by Ronald Young, 59, of Pittsburgh, which then ran into a 2003 Kia Sedona driven by Holly MacDonald, 37, of Pittsburgh, police said.

Winkler’s vehicle was towed by Boff Towing Service.

Green Light Does Not Always Mean Go

A Pittsburgh woman said she saw the traffic light at Route 19/Perry Highway and Nicholas Drive in Pine Township change to green at about 12:30 p.m. May 2 and she started to go forward without realizing the vehicle in front of her had not moved, according to a police report.

Ana Haret Richter, 27, of Pittsburgh then ran into the back of a 2010 Subaru Outback driven by Gerard Thomas III, 41, of North Huntingdon, police said.

Three Minors Involved in Three-Vehicle Accident

No injuries were reported April 26 after a three-vehicle accident near the Babcock Boulevard intersection with Route 910, police said.

All the vehicles were driven by minors, said police.

A minor driving a 2006 Lexus ES330 told police he was traveling south on Babcock Boulevard around 2:45 p.m. when he came around a bend and saw traffic was stopped, the police report stated.

The minor said he was unable to stop and collided into the back of a 2008 Lincoln MKZ, which in turn bumped into the back of a 1999 Chevrolet Malibu, police said.

The minor told police he was traveling at about 35 to 40 mph, the police report said.

The Lexus and Lincoln were towed by John B Lombardo's Complete Collision Inc.

Vehicles Collide After Traffic Light Changes to Green

The traffic light changed from red to green at the intersection of Route 8 [William Flynn Highway] and Route 910 [Gibsonia Road] on the morning of April 25 and a vehicle moved forward.

The problem was -- the vehicle in front of it had not moved.

Andrew Horchar, 38, of Allison Park was behind the wheel of a 2011 Dodge Dakota when he moved forward and collided with the back of a 2011 Dodge Ram driven by Jeffrey Black, 31, of Saxonburg, according to a police report.

All occupants of the vehicles refused medical treatment, the report said.

GMC Truck Runs Into Back of Chevy Impala

An Allison Park man ran into the back of the vehicle in front of him about 5 p.m. April 21 in Pine Township, police said.

John Farley, 64, said he had stopped his 2003 GMC truck behind another vehicle on Reynolds Road, waiting to turn onto Route 910, police said.

He said he saw the 2008 Chevy Impala driven by Nancy Jeffries, 68, of Gibsonia start to move onto Route 910, police said. Farley said he was looking left on Route 910 and did not realize the other vehicle had stopped again, said police.

 For questions about this blotter, email cindy.micco@patch.com.