Pittsburgh Police were alarmed shortly after 2am on East Carson Street in the Southside when a black Pontiac driven by a 26-year-old intoxicated Wilkinsburg man hit three pedestrians walking along the road. Police were actually attending to another call when the Wilkinsburg man hit one person, drove away, saw police, backed into two more people, and then tried to escape again before he was stopped.
One Pittsburgh Police officer fired a shot at the Pontiac, attempting to stop the driver, and struck a passenger in the car. The passenger sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was treated accordingly.
The ruckus began on the 1500 block of East Carson Street, continued on 16th Street, and ended as the officer fired shots on Roland Street, where the driver attempted to make his final escape. The Pittsburgh Police press release stated that the police officer "made every attempt to evade the threat of the oncoming vehicle while fearing for his life."
Fortunately, none of the pedestrians hit by the driver were critically injured. In addition, none of the passengers, other than the one struck with the bullet, were injured either. However, the driver of the Pontiac did sustain a large cut to his head. When all was said and done, the driver is facing a DUI, four counts of reckless endangerment, possession of marijuana, a firearms violation, and criminal attempted homicide against a police officer, among other things.
The officer who fired the round that struck one of the vehicle's passengers has been placed on a paid leave of absence, as per usual, until investigators and the Allegheny County District Attorney fully hash out the details of the events that took place.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Pittsburgh police fire after car hits three pedestrians on South Side" 20 October 2013