Man leads police on dangerous, high-speed chase through New Kensington

WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — Authorities in Westmoreland County said a child was a passenger in a car involved in a police chase Wednesday night.

Investigators said the chase ended at the intersection of Locust Street and Leishman Avenue in New Kensington.

State police said they were watching the driver of the car, 18-year-old William Burrell, at the Clarion Hotel for reports of suspicious activity.

Officers said when they attempted to pull Burrell over he fled the scene, nearly running over one of the troopers.

Police said Burrell ran through a stop sign at nearly 80 mph and was hit by another car before he skidded down the road, went airborne, hit a parked car then landed on top of another vehicle.

A woman was inside of the car when the crash happened. She was not hurt.

"I was reaching over my seat to pop my hood. I looked up and the car landed right on top of my car," the woman said.

Burrell and the child were both taken to a nearby hospital. Their names have not been released. Police said they are both expected to be OK.

State police said they found a handgun and drugs inside of the man's car and heroin in the hotel room.

D.J. Harding, Burrell’s neighbor, said he trusted Burrell and didn’t know police found bricks of heroin inside his hotel room.

“His son comes and plays with my son sometime,” Harding said. “The whole thing is pretty dangerous to me.”

There is no word on what charges Burrell faces.

WPXI