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Hit & Run Accident Leaves Vehicles Damaged On South Side

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Some residents on Pittsburgh's South Side woke up this morning to hundreds of dollars in damage to their vehicles after an overnight hit and run accident.

The accident happened on S. 18th Street at the intersection with East Carson Street.

The driver reportedly made a turn there and then ended up hitting several vehicles.

According to police, the person drove a little ways and then ditched their vehicle and took off.

Serious damage was reported to several vehicles that were parked along that road. Police continue to search for the driver.

But this isn't the first time cars have been damaged on the South Side. Back on April 13, an out-of-control jeep hit some cars, including a police cruiser.

Bob Babski, a South Side resident, knows firsthand the dangers of parking a car on the neighborhood. When it comes to dents and dings and much worse, he's been hit a few times.

"Car came by, and the overhang of a truck hit the whole side of it; tore the side off of it, and by the time I saw it they were already gone," said Babski. "My truck got hit too while it was sitting out here, but what can you do? By the time you come out, they're gone or you're not there."

His neighbor weren't spared either.

"They just got hit a couple weeks ago, sitting right over here, and they got sideswiped - tore the mirror off and everything," he added.

It's hard to not drive down a street in the South Side Flats and not see a car with minor to serious battle damage - mirrors are folded in, if not they're gone completely.

"The solution to parking is not additional spaces, but rather vehicle reduction," said Pittsburgh City Councilman Bruce Kraus.

He knows all too well of the perils of parking on the South Side.

"Data that we've collected will show 33.5 percent of all crimes taking place on the South Side Flats are related to vehicles," Councilman Kraus added.

The key may be more taxis and buses and less cars to do the damage they do.

"Clearly, our direction then is how do you reduce vehicles to increase safety, and raise quality of life," said Councilman Kraus. "All of those things are in discussion as we speak."

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