19-year-old dies after jumping into Allegheny River during police chase

PITTSBURGH — A man who was running from police died after jumping into the Allegheny River late Wednesday night.

Investigators said the chase began when officers attempted to pull a car over near Pittsburgh's Strip District around 11 p.m. Police said the car was reported stolen during a carjacking in Lawrenceville earlier this week.

"A pursuit was initiated. The pursuit went inbound on Liberty Avenue and ended up going through town. The actor drove on Fort Duquesne the wrong way and hit a vehicle," said Pittsburgh police Cmdr. Eric Holmes.

After the crash police said one of the men inside, 19-year-old David Thomas, tried fleeing from police on foot, jumped over a railing on Fort Duquesne Boulevard to the 10^th Street Bypass and into the Allegheny River.

"During his leaping over the wall and onto the trailer a gun was dropped. He ran across 10th street bypass and jumped into Allegeney River trying to elude detectives," Holmes said.

Police said Thomas was pulled from the water about an hour later and died at a nearby hospital.

Two other men inside of the car at the time of the chase were taken into custody. Their names have not been released. It was not immediatley clear what charges they may face.

WPXI