State police car hit responding to report of 50 vehicles drag racing on Fort Pitt Bridge

State police are investigating after they say the driver of an SUV drove directly into a marked state trooper patrol unit then fled, almost striking a trooper.

Just after 3:35 a.m., multiple reports were received that about 50 vehicles were stopped on the Fort Pitt Bridge. They appeared to be doing burnouts and drag racing on the bridge, according to state police.

“This is the first time we’ve seen anything this year where they’ve actually taken over a whole bridge,” said Trooper Rocco Gagliardi of the Pennsylvania State Police.

“People trying to get through that bridge were calling into the 911 center saying, ‘Hey, I can’t get through…I’m stuck in the tunnel,” Gagliardi said.

When troopers arrived on scene, a burgundy Jeep Grand Cherokee drove into the police unit, then nearly struck a trooper.

Troopers were able to locate the vehicle near Bridgeville with the help of the South Fayette Police Department.

Channel 11 was the only station in South Fayette this morning on Boyce Road, where we saw a burgundy Jeep with some rear damage being towed from the scene.

We also saw a person in handcuffs being taken away in a state police cruiser.

Troopers said that everyone inside the Grand Cherokee was brought in for questioning, as investigators figure out charges and try to pinpoint everyone involved in holding up traffic.

Channel 11 obtained video of what appears to show people doing donuts on the bridge.

“We can start looking at all of that footage, get the plates and information needed to see who was all there that night and break down the incident, step-by-step,” Gagliardi said.

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