2 from Lower Burrell flown to hospital after police chase in Armstrong County

State police said a Lower Burrell man passed a stopped school bus during a pursuit in Armstrong County that began after a trooper told the man he was not allowed to be driving.

The chase ended in a crash and the driver, Walter Frank Smith, 53, and a passenger, Nicole Ann Berisko, 32, also of Lower Burrell, were taken to the hospital by helicopter, state police said.

State police said a trooper encountered Smith and Berisko shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday after going to the Atwood boat launch in Atwood Borough to do a welfare check.

Smith was told he was not permitted to operate a vehicle because his driving privileges were under suspension and he appeared to be under the influence, state police said.

After leaving, the trooper said he saw Smith driving a car with Berisko riding with him near Route 210 and West Indiana Street in Plum Creek Township. State police said Smith fled when the trooper tried to stop him.

The pursuit continued along West Indiana Street and, at some point, Smith passed a stopped school bus where students were about to get on, state police said. Police said the trooper turned around to make sure the driver and students were safe before resuming the pursuit.

At Atwood and Frick roads in Washington Township, Indiana County, Smith’s vehicle was found to have gone off the road, over a retaining wall and down an embankment, coming to rest on its roof. Berisko was seen dragging Smith out of the car, state police said.

The incident remained under investigation, state police said.