Morning Roundup: Car crashes off Route 28 ramp to Highland Park Bridge; driver walks away

Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, March 13:

Driver walks away after car crashes off Route 28 ramp

A man did not suffer any apparent injuries after his car on Wednesday flew off a Route 28 ramp to the Highland Park Bridge, landing roughly 30 feet below in an industrial park in Sharpsburg.

“It was literally a miracle that he was able to walk away from it,” said Frank Bagnato, captain of a Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services fire rescue crew that responded to the scene shortly after 5 p.m.

“When you get a vehicle that comes of an overpass, you’re not expecting good results,” Bagnato said. “We were definitely not expecting him to be walking around with no apparent injuries.”

The driver, who was the sole occupant of the car, was taken by ambulance to a local hospital as a precaution, Bagnato said.

The cause of the wreck wasn’t immediately clear. State police are investigating.

According to a witness, Bagnato said, the car rolled several times before plunging from the ramp and landing below on its tires. He estimated the car fell at least 30 feet.

Cherry City Volunteer Fire Company, another responding unit, posted images on social media showing damage to all sides of the car.

Teen charged in Clairton shooting

Allegheny County Police have charged a McKees Rocks teen in connection with a Nov. 23 shooting in Clairton.

Three teenage boys were found shot when first responders answered a 911 call shortly before 11 p.m. in the 400 block of Park Avenue. The boys were taken to area hospitals in stable condition.

Through witness interviews and additional evidence, county detectives said they were able to identify the suspect in the shooting as 15-year-old Aaron Reddix.

Police said the boys were shot by a suspect in an SUV traveling north on Fifth Street near Park Avenue. Investigators said they recovered two stolen vehicles believed to be connected to the shooting.

Reddix is charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, receiving stolen property and possession of a firearm by a minor.

He was arraigned Wednesday and was placed in the Allegheny County Jail, with bail denied. He faces a preliminary hearing March 19.

Sinkhole closes street in Homewood

Hale Street was closed near the intersection of Bennett Street after a large sinkhole developed in the middle of the roadway on Wednesday in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood.

TribLive news partner WTAE reported repairs were underway Thursday morning.

In a statement issued to the TV station, the city’s Department of Public Works said it was working to determine the cause, while noting “a break has been identified in a 6-inch water line owned by the Wilkinsburg Penn Joint Water Authority, and they are actively addressing the issue.”