5 teens hurt after chase, crash in East Liberty

PITTSBURGH — Several teenagers were hurt after a police chase and crash in East Liberty early Monday.

The crash ended when the car with six teens inside crashed into the side of a building at East Liberty Boulevard and Penn Avenue shortly after 4 a.m.

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The 16-year-old driver was pinned by the crushed dashboard.

"You could only see the back of his head because the seat was pushed all the way up into the steering wheel," district EMS chief Amera Gilrchrist said.

The driver was taken to UPMC Presbyterian hospital in critical condition.

A 13-year-old passenger, two 14-year-olds and a 15-year-old in the car were also hurt. Another passenger ran from the scene.

One of the injured went to the hospital with a broken leg and broken ribs. Another suffered a spinal injury.

None of the teens were wearing a seatbelt.

"If they had seatbelts on they wouldn't have leg fractures...they wouldn't be as injured as they were," Gilrchrist said.

Police began pursuing the car about 4:20 a.m. Monday after an officer saw it being driven without headlights near the intersection of Wilkins and South Dallas Avenues in Point Breeze.

According to the investigation, the vehicle is believed to have been stolen from Shadyside.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

WPXI