McCANDLESS (KDKA) — One person is dead after a vehicle crashed into a tree in the parking lot of a movie theater in the North Hills Sunday evening.

The accident happened at the Rave Motion Pictures theater on McKnight Road in McCandless.

KDKA’s Lynne Hayes-Freeland reports that sources say the person who was killed was at the nearby J. Clark’s restaurant before the crash.

According to sources, employees at the restaurant reported that they had called for a taxi for the person because they had allegedly been drinking; however, the person reportedly refused to take the cab and got into their own vehicle, taking off with no headlights.

That’s when the employees reportedly called 911.

Officials say the car crossed McKnight Road and reportedly struck two police cruisers before going through the parking lot of the theater, and then slamming into the tree.

“It was coming straight towards us and I didn’t know if he was going to stop or what he was doing,” said Leah Mueller, a witness. “He was going 70, 80 miles an hour. It was scary.”

The victim has been identified as 32-year-old Benjamin Bibler. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“I just yelled lock the doors because I didn’t know if he was going to get out after it wrecked. I didn’t stick around to see what was going on,” said Brian Neurhour, another witness. “I just thought if he got out of the car, the first place he would run, if there’s open parking lot all around, was to go into the building.”

Allegheny County police are investigating and were interviewing people inside the restaurant and in the parking lot of the theater.

Stay with KDKA for the latest details.

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