Police: Bethel Park crash that injured 4 was driver's attempt to kill girlfriend

A Finleyville man is accused of attempting to kill his girlfriend by wrecking his pickup truck into another vehicle Thursday in Bethel Park.

Jeffrey Dezardo, 27, fled on foot from the crash, which injured his girlfriend and two occupants of the other vehicle, Bethel Park police said.

Dezardo’s truck flipped onto its side during the collision, which also split a utility pole, before 4:30 p.m. in the 5400 block of Brightwood Road.

According to court documents, Dezardo, who had an arm injury, was located and surrendered to police.

He told investigators his girlfriend arrived while his truck was parked at the Walmart on Library Road and the two got into an argument about his drug use, and the quarrel continued as he drove away, police said.

Dezardo told police the crash occurred as he looked back at his girlfriend, who was in the rear seat of the truck, court papers state.

But police said Dezardo’s girlfriend told them he became upset when she called his parole officer and said allegedly said he was going to “crash both of us” before speeding up and steering into the path of the other vehicle.

Dezardo is charged with attempting to cause the death of his girlfriend, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, reckless endangerment and additional traffic violations.

Dezardo’s girlfriend and the occupants in the other vehicle were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Dezardo was arraigned before District Judge Craig Stephens and was placed in the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh after failing to post $150,000 bail. He faces a June 13 preliminary hearing.