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Several students hospitalized after being struck by car while walking home from school

OAKLAND, Pa. — Six University Prep students were struck by a vehicle on Centre Avenue in the Hill District and transported to two area hospitals on Tuesday.

UPDATE 11 p.m. - Channel 11's Gabriella DeLuca spoke to a witness who saw the whole incident happen.

"I was very scared for her life. I ran over there and was screaming. It was terrifying," she said.

The UPrep student recalls the moments she saw her friend get hit by a car on Centre Avenue.

"First thing I heard was loud music and then a car skirrrt and I turned around and I saw the car hit my friend, and it was still out of control so it hit other children on the sidewalk," she said.

Watch a full report from Gabriella DeLuca below.

UPDATE 6:12 p.m. - Pittsburgh police say the driver, a teenage female who also attends University Prep, and a male passenger initially fled the scene, but later returned.

Detectives took them in for questioning.

No charges have been filed at this time.

Users of the WPXI News App were the first to know about this breaking story. To learn more visit wpxinewsapp.com.

UPDATE 5:45 p.m. - Centre Avenue is back open to traffic.

UPDATE 5:30 p.m. The car involved has been towed from the scene.

"Our focus has been on the students that are at the hospital," said Melissa Friez, assistant superintendent for Pittsburgh Public Schools. "Obviously we want to make sure that they were with their families. We have district administration as well as school administration there supporting the students. We find it very important that we made sure that they were our first and primary focus."

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UPDATE 5 p.m. A man told Channel 11 he got a call that a family friend had struck several students and he rushed to the scene.

"She just told me she lost control, and she blacked out and that was all," said the man, who did not want to be identified. ""She's fine, she's just real upset  she's hurt actually hurt that she hit any kids and she just wants everyone to be okay."

A school district official said the driver attends University Prep.

According to police, the driver came down the hill, struck four students on the sidewalk and then another two students in the street.

UPDATE 3:55 p.m. The driver of the car is a teenager and has been taken in for questioning, according to the Pittsburgh Police Director of Public Safety.

Police cannot confirm yet if the driver is also a student at University Prep.

Administrators with Pittsburgh Public Schools are en route to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and UPMC Presbyterian where the students were taken. The district is contacting impacted families directly.

Centre Avenue will be closed for several hours while police investigate.

UPDATE 3:45 p.m. Police told Channel 11 a black sedan driven by a teenager crashed into several students on the sidewalk.

Photos: Car struck several students walking home from school, witness claims

UPDATE 3:40 p.m. Six UPrep students were struck and transported to two area hospitals.

All are expected to survive and one has serious injuries.

TRENDING NOW:

UPDATE 3:35 p.m. A teacher told Channel 11 she jumped out of her car when she saw the crash to make sure students were OK.

We're working to find out how many were hurt.

UPDATE 3:30 p.m. Multiple pedestrians were hurt and the road is closed, according to Allegheny County.

This happened near University Prep, which is a Pittsburgh Public School.

ORIGINAL STORY: Several students were hit by a car as they were walking home from school, according to witnesses.

Channel 11 has several crews on Centre Avenue in Oakland.

 

Cox Media Group

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