Man accused of leading police on 5-mile chase on Parkway East, crashing into another vehicle
A Jeannette man is free on his own recognizance after state police said he led them on a chase through Monroeville before crashing in Wilkinsburg.
Brett R. Birch, 19, is charged with fleeing from police, failure to stop and several other traffic violations.
Troopers said they were checking drivers’ speed Friday on the Parkway East in Monroeville when they spotted a Honda Civic traveling west at 91 mph just before 9:30 p.m. Police said the posted speed limit in the area is 55 mph.
When police tried to make a traffic stop, they said the driver of the car sped up to 100 mph and continued on for 5 miles. The car ran a red light at William Penn Highway and Graham Boulevard in Wilkinsburg before crashing into a Nissan Pathfinder, police said.
Birch fled the crash and was apprehended a short distance away.
The driver and two passengers in the Nissan were not hurt, police said.
Birch was taken to Allegheny County Jail to await arraignment Saturday morning. A preliminary hearing is set for April 4. Birch did not have an attorney listed in online court records.
Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com.
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