Crime & Safety

Traffic Blotter: Fender-Benders to Collisions

These incidents were reported to Northern Regional Police Department in March.

Everything from fender-benders to collisions were reported to Northern Regional Police Department during the month of March. Here are the stories of those incidents.

Van Towed After Hitting Middle School Light Pole

A Pine-Richland Middle School maintenance employee reported a 2008 Honda Odyssey van was in the school’s parking lot on the evening of March 25 with front-end damage, a deployed airbag and no driver present, according to a Northern Regional Police Department report.

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Police went to the home where the vehicle was registered and spoke to Tracey Settembrino, 31, of Gibsonia, who said she had been driving the van in the parking lot, the police report states.

The officer explained that the accident had to be reported to police because of the damage and the vehicle needing to be towed, the report said. Settembrino told police she did not know that, according to the report.

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Pregnant Woman Asks for EMS Evaluation After Fender Bender

A fender-bender on Perry Highway March 21 led to an EMS call because a woman in one of the vehicles was six months pregnant, according to police.

Meghan Clark, 32, of Pittsburgh asked for an EMS evaluation after her 2005 Acura MDX was struck from behind about 4:30 p.m. at the traffic signal at Wallace Road Extension, a report from Northern Regional Police states.

Amy Brandner, 20, of Gibsonia was stopped at the traffic signal when her foot slipped from the brake and her car drifted into Clark’s vehicle, the report states.

McCandless-Franklin Park EMS evaluated Clark, but did not advise her to go to the hospital, police said.

Vehicles Collide at Getgo

The Getgo station in Pine Township was the site of a collision March 21 about 6:30 p.m.

Diane Wolford, 46, of Sewickley tried to get around a 2010 Ford Edge that was stopped in the trafficway by passing through parking spaces to the right, said police.

Ted Engle, 44, of Gibsonia told police he had circled the gas pumps and was stopped in the trafficway when he started to turn into a parking place and collided with Wolford’s 2007 Honda Odyssey, according to a report from Northern Regional Police Department.

Elderly Couple’s Car Hits Concrete Barrier

An elderly couple was taken to UPMC Passavant Hospital about 4 p.m. March 20 after their car struck a concrete barrier on Perry Highway in Pine Township, police said.

Anne and John Tobin of Allison Park were traveling near the Village at Pine when the accident occurred, police said.

The 2011 Cadillac SRX4 driven by Anne, 76, “reportedly struck a curb in the right shoulder of the highway and then proceeded across all northbound lanes until striking the concrete barrier in the left shoulder where the vehicle came to a stop,” states a report from Northern Regional Police Department.

“Anne was stabilized by medics after reporting neck and back pain. She was removed from the vehicle via the passenger side due to the concrete barrier blocking the driver’s door,” the report states. “John J. Tobin [her 77-year-old husband] was the front passenger in the vehicle and reported that he was having pain in his rib cage area.”

Deer Hit by Vehicle on Wexford Bayne Road

A deer attempting to cross Wexford Bayne Road [Route 910] about 6:30 p.m. March 18 was killed when it collided with a vehicle, police said.

Kyle Patrick Connolly of Gibsonia was traveling west on the road near the intersection with Brennan Road in Pine Township when his 2006 Chevy Silverado hit the deer, according to police.

Police noted minor front-end damage to the vehicle and PennDOT was contacted to remove the carcass, the police report states.

Vehicles Collide at Intersection of Bakerstown and State Roads

Two vehicles collided March 17 at the intersection of Bakerstown and State roads in Richland Township, police report.

Jason Hopkins, 19, of Valencia told police his 1995 Chevrolet Blazer was stopped on Bakerstown eastbound about 10:30 a.m., waiting to make a left onto State Road, a report from Northern Regional Police states.

A large truck pulled out in front of him as it made a left from State Road onto Bakerstown eastbound, according to the report.

Hopkins started to make the left turn when he collided with a 2006 Chevrolet driven by Patrick Abrams, 61, of Bradford that was heading west on Bakerstown Road, the report states.

As Adams crested the hill, Hopkins’ vehicle was in front of him and he could not avoid the collision, according to police.

Van Runs into Back of Tahoe on Perry Highway

A van ran into the back of a Chevrolet Tahoe about 8:15 p.m. March 16 on Perry Highway at the intersection with Brooker Road in Pine Township, police report.

Anne Shubak, 42, of Sewickley told police she was travelling north on Perry Highway, approaching Brooker, when she looked over into Wexford Plaza and did not notice traffic stopped in her lane, according to the Northern Regional Police report.

She said her 2002 Dodge Caravan ran into the back of a 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Anna Saker, 54, of Mars, police said.

Shubak’s van was towed because her radiator was punctured during the collision, police said.

16-Year-Old Hits Vehicle at Pine Community Park Entrance

A 2005 Honda Pilot driven by a 16-year-old from Wexford ran into another vehicle about 3 p.m. March 16 as he pulled onto Warrendale Road from Pine Community Park, according to police.

No injuries were reported after the collision with a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero driven by Elise Zientara, 54, of Gibsonia, Northern Regional Police said. Zientara had been traveling west on Warrendale Road when the accident happened, police said.

Wexford Man Charged with Leaving Scene of Accident

A 47-year-old Wexford man has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident and driving with a suspended license, police said.

Erik Eigenbrode was charged after a March 15 incident in which his 2005 Honda Element allegedly hit a telephone pole and then traveled over a hillside on Babcock Boulevard near Lake MacLeod Drive, the Northern Regional Police report states.

Police were alerted to the accident by Roger Boff of Boff’s Towing, who said a man had called him to tow the car.

When Boff arrived and found a telephone pole was broken in half and the vehicle was sitting in the woods below the pole, “he decided to call the police due to the serious nature of the accident,” according to the police report.

Police visited the address listed on the car’s registration and spoke to Eigenbrode, the report states.

“Eigenbrode stated that he was driving south on Babcock Boulevard, just north of Lake MacLeod Drive, when he drove into the telephone pole while rounding the bend in the road,” the police report states.

Eigenbrode told police the impact caused the car to fall over the hillside, according to the report. He then called a friend to pick him up and Boff to tow the vehicle, police said.

 Vehicles Collide in Village at Pine Parking Lot

A two-vehicle crash occurred about noon March 12 in the parking lot of the Village at Pine near Ichiban Steakhouse.

A 2011 Honda Pilot driven by Heather Killigrew, 36, of Pittsburgh was struck when she pulled into the intersection of Towne Centre Drive and Village Run Road, police said.

A Wexford minor driving a 1995 BMW on Village Run Road said the car pulled in front of him, police said. The minor had the right-of-way, police said.

Killigrew said she was at the stop sign in front of the Hallmark store when she attempted to cross over Village Run Road to the other side of the plaza where Ichiban is located, police said.

Ace Was The Place Where Two Vehicles Collided

Two vehicles collided about 12:30 p.m. March 10 on Perry Highway in Pine Township near the intersection with Church Road when one tried to make a right turn into Ace Hardware, according to a police report.

Edward Seanor, 54, of Arnold said he had pulled into the northbound left lane of Perry Highway and then attempted to make a right turn into Ace Hardware, states the report from Northern Regional Police.

His 1998 Chevrolet Blazer was struck on the right side when it pulled into the path of a 2007 Toyota RAV-4 driven by Carolina Rivera-Tejada, 18, of Wexford, police said.

Pipe on Route 8 at Heart of Accident

A two-foot-diameter plastic pipe on William Flynn Highway (Route 8) near Willow Creek Road in Richland Township was at the heart of an accident about 5 p.m. March 10.

A 2008 Dodge Caravan driven by Jane E. Dillner, 47, of Gibsonia was slowing for traffic in front of her when her vehicle was struck by a 1996 Saturn driven by Michael Connolly, 54, of Gibsonia, according to the police report.

Fender-Bender in Richland Township

A fender-bender in Richland Township was reported about 4 p.m. March 9 at the intersection of Community Center Drive and Gibsonia Road [Route 910].

Timothy L. Stotler of Oakmont, 30, told police his 1999 Ford Escort hit a 2008 Ford Expedition driven by Amanda Weaver, 30, of Gibsonia, according to the police report.

Both vehicles’ bumpers were damaged, but the vehicles were able to be driven from the scene, according to the police report.

No Injuries Reported After Cars Collide on Perry Highway

No injuries were reported March 7 after two vehicles collided on Perry Highway [Route 19] near Church Road, police said.

Michael Fuchs, 28, of Allison Park was traveling in the left lane of southbound Perry Highway about 6:45 p.m. when he checked the right lane prior to merging, police said.

When he looked back, he saw traffic was stopping for another vehicle attempting to turn left into Billco Motors, police said. Fuchs told police he quickly merged into the right lane to avoid striking the stopped vehicles, according to the police report.

That was when his 2002 Jaguar collided with a 2004 Honda Civic driven by Jennifer Pegher, 29, of Warrendale, police said.

Pegher told police she was unable to avoid hitting the car after it made a sudden lane change, police said.

Auto Hits Ice, Goes Over Embankment

An automobile spun out on a patch of ice near 3924 Bakerstown Road in Richland Township about 7 a.m. March 6, went over an embankment, rolled over and came to rest on its roof, Northern Regional Police said.

The driver -- John Gault, 22, of Pittsburgh -- was checked at the scene by Richland EMS, according to the police report. The driver was able to get himself out of the vehicle through the driver’s door, police said.

“As he was coming down a slight downgrade, he saw what he thought was water on the road,” the report said. “When his vehicle went over this area he learned it was ice and spun out of control.

“(The vehicle) spun into and over the westbound lanes 180 degrees and went over an embankment, rolled one time on the driver’s side and came to rest on the roof of the car,” according to police.

The vehicle was pulled over the hillside by Rudolph’s Towing and towed to its impound yard, police said.

Vehicle Hits Tree Stump After Wheels Drop Off Road

Walter Connor Jr., 85, of Gibonia was traveling north on Richland Road about 6:15 p.m. March 4 when his vehicle's right wheels dropped off the edge of the road into the mud on the berm, police reported.

“When his right wheels were in the mud he was unable to steer back onto the roadway and the right front side of his vehicle struck a tree stump,“ the police report stated.

The vehicle needed to be towed; the accident was in the vicinity of 5268 Richland Road in Richland Township, police said.

Three Vehicles Involved in Chain Reaction

A chain reaction at Perry Highway and Wallace Road was reported about 1 p.m. March 4, police said.

Two vehicles were stopped at a red traffic signal when a 2010 Subaru Impreza driven by Stephanie Wickwire, 22, of Mars, ran into the vehicle in front of her, which then bumped into the car in front of it, police said.

Light damage to the vehicles was reported, but no injuries to the drivers, according to police. 

The other vehicles were driven by April Cummins, 19, of Pittsburgh and Mark Provenzano, 47, of Wexford.

Man Charged with Careless Driving After Alleged Sideswiping

Michael Fisher, 24, of Allison Park was charged with careless driving after allegedly sideswiping another car on Route 910, police said.

Fisher failed to maintain control of his 2001 Acura while traveling east on Route 910 near South Montour Road around 6:30 p.m. on March 3, according to a police report.

His vehicle crossed into the westbound lane while he was negotiating a downhill right curve in the road, causing him to cross the center line and sideswipe a 2007 Hyundai Sonata driven by an Allison Park minor, police said.

Police said the cars collided in the westbound lane, about 4 feet left of the center line, the report stated.

Both vehicles were towed by Rudolph’s Tow Service.

Three-Car Chain Collision Reported

Three cars traveling on Perry Highway in Pine Township collided in a chain reaction about 10 a.m. March 3 after one driver’s foot slid off the brake, according to a police report.

Christopher Crede, 39, of Tionesta told police he was slowing for a red light near 11150 Perry Highway when his foot slid off the brake pedal and his 1997 Chevrolet ran into the back of the vehicle in front of him, said the police report.

That 2010 Acura TSX driven by Barbara Shumaker, 63, of Cranberry then ran into a 2010 Toyota Corolla driven by Phyllis Shaffer, 78, the police report stated.

None of the vehicles needed to be towed, police said.

Bright Sun Blinds Driver            

The bright sun was blamed for an accident around 7:30 a.m. March 3 at the intersection of Hillcrest Drive and Bakerstown Road in Richland Township.

Gloria Napolitan, 71, of Gibsonia was turning left from Hillcrest Drive onto Bakerstown Road when the right front of her 1998 Lincoln sedan hit the left side of a 2006 Nissan truck driven by Michael Ford, 40, of Cheswick, police said.

“She stated she could not see [the truck] while she was pulling out because of the extremely bright sun shining in her eyes,” the police report stated.

Both persons declined medical attention, police said.

Police Car Collides with Deer

A Northern Regional police officer’s car collided with a deer about 7:15 p.m. March 2 on Freeport Road near the Venango Trails property in Marshall township, according to police.

Officer Matthew Durzo had cleared a previous accident scene at 1450 Freeport Road and was transporting a passenger to a nearby Sunoco station to arrange for a ride home, according to the police report.

Other than the deer, no injuries were reported.

The police car had minor damage to the front passenger head lamp area and front passenger quarter panel, according to the police report. It remained in service for the remainder of the shift, the report said.

The passenger was transported “without further incident,” police said.

Woman’s Foot Slips Off Brake
One car ran into the back of another on Perry Highway at North Chapel Road at 4 p.m. on March 1, police said.

Linda Bailey, 50, of Pittsburgh told police she was reaching for something while sitting at the traffic light when her foot slipped off the brake and her 1996 Jeep Cherokee ran into the car in front of her, the police report said.

That vehicle, a 2011 Hyundai Tucson, was driven by Emily Bopp, 55, of Valencia, police said.

Neither car needed to be towed, said police.


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