Man escapes hospital after fleeing police, crashing near Memorial Day parade

LIBERTY BOROUGH, Pa. — Authorities are searching for a man who escaped from a hospital after fleeing police and crashing Saturday near Liberty Borough’s Memorial Day parade route, the borough’s mayor said.

William Gasdick, 26, faces a list of charges, including driving under the influence, fleeing or attempting to elude officers, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.

The incident started in the area of Liberty Way and Scene Ridge Road, which police had blocked off to traffic because of the parade.

Police said Gasdick was driving an SUV when an officer signaled that Scene Ridge Road was closed. Gasdick pointed toward the road before backing the SUV into a vehicle behind him and then speeding forward toward Scene Ridge Road, according to a criminal complaint.

A band, firefighters and police officers were stationed in the area for the parade, the complaint said.

An officer activated the lights to a police vehicle, at which point Gasdick swerved through a yard before getting back on the road, the complaint said.

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Numerous people -- including South Allegheny students in the marching band, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, parents and borough residents -- were in the area, according to the complaint. Liberty Borough Mayor Larry Sikorski and a councilman were also there.

"All I saw was him coming at me," Sikorski said.

Gasdick then drove between two patrol vehicles whose lights were on, just missing parked vehicles and nearly hitting the Glassport’s police chief and a Port Vue police officer, the complaint said. He continued driving at a high rate of speed, driving through stop signs before eventually crashing into a telephone pole, the complaint said.

After crashing, Gasdick got out of the SUV and ran as police chased after him, according to the complaint.

While Gasdick was being placed in handcuffs, he shouted at officers, saying, “You’re dead, and your kids too,” the complaint said.

Gasdick, who was bleeding from his head because of the crash, was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital.

Sikorski said he was told by the police chief that Gasdick escaped from the hospital.

"He escaped from there. That's all I know. How he got out of there, what he did, I have no idea," Sikorski said.

Several police agencies are working on the investigation.

Channel 11 uncovered new information about a similar incident Gasdick was involved in five months ago, when he also ran after crashing.

Cary Buhaly is still trying to fix the damage on the outside and inside of his home after a car crashed into it in December.

The damage totaled $24,000.  Buhaly went after the driver, Gasdick, but hasn't gotten a dime.

"He was a pizza delivery man and he didn't have the proper insurance,” Buhaly said.

Lincoln Borough police said Gasdick was drinking whiskey when he crashed into Buhaly's home on West Smithfield Street.

He ran from police that day, but officers eventually caught him.

Now, five months later, Gasdick is accused of driving drunk again.

In addition to charges for the parade incident, new charges have been filed against Gasdick for insurance fraud related to the crash at Buhaly's home.

Buhaly still hopes he might get some money and that police get Gasdick off the road permanently.

Cox Media Group