News

Man killed in Butler Co. crash: ‘You'll read about me'

BUTLER COUNTY, Pa. — A 36-year-old woman was killed when police said a driver crashed head-on into the Jeep Cherokee she was driving.

According to investigators, the crash happened late Wednesday night on Route 68 in Forward Township, Butler County, killing both drivers involved. Police are investigating whether or not the crash was intentional.

Authorities said the driver of the Dodge Neon, 38-year-old Michael Reid, of Butler, was at a home on Westview Drive prior to the crash. Investigators said Reid was violating a protection from abuse order filed by his ex-girlfriend by being at the home. Sources told Channel 11 News that the man threw bricks through the window of the woman's home before he took off on to Route 68. 

According to Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE, when police officer Alan Mores arrived at the woman's home, Reid had left. The police chief said Reid called his ex-girlfriend and she handed the phone to the officer, who told the man he wanted to talk with him about the incident.

“He said ‘I'm not coming up to talk to you. You'll read about me in the paper tomorrow,'” police chief John R. Hays said. He added that information about the incident was given to state police.

Police identified the woman killed in the Jeep as Hannah Swigart, 36, of Butler. Channel 11's Dave Bondy reported that Swigart was a mother of three. A friend said Swigart was driving home from work when the crash happened.

“Hannah was an amazing mother, wife and friend. She believed in God, and I know that’s where she is at and she didn’t deserve this. She’ll be missed terribly,” Beth Yost said. “She slept about three or four hours every night. She has a year and a half year old baby that constantly kept her going, and two other beautiful children. She was just an amazing person."

A Memorial Fund has been set up for her children at PNC Bank in the name of Hannah Swigart Children Memorial Fund.

Evans City fire Chief Mark Adomaitis said the crash was one of the worst he’s ever seen.

“It was difficult. She was on the other side of the guardrail, and it’s a very steep hillside. We had guys tied to the guardrail and descending down,” Adomaitis said.

Police are investigating whether or not the crash was intentional.

“With all crashes, no one expects something like this. It just seems from all accounts that we have it was just a woman driving home minding her own business,” Trooper Dan Kesten said.

“People just fly down the hill coming from Butler toward Evans City.  Pulling out of our driveway, we fear for our lives,” said neighbor Matt Alabran.

WPXI

Most Read