Officer Killed, Another Injured In High-Speed Chase
NEW CASTLE (KDKA) -- A Shenango Township police officer is dead, and another Shenango Township officer is in the hospital, after a high-speed chase Thursday night.
Around 10 p.m. Thursday night, police spotted a car driving erratically.
Officers pursued the car driven by Kylee Barletto, 26, of New Castle.
She was driving under a suspended license for a DUI. Police say at one point she slowed down, and appeared to be pulling over, but then took off again.
KDKA's Bob Allen has the latest on the crash investigation:
The chase went through New Castle and ended at the intersection of Cascade Street and Warren Avenue when Barletto crashed into a Shenango Township police car.
The officer were merely trying to find the chase to assist New Castle Police.
Part-time officer William Jerry McCarthy IIII, 60, was killed in the crash. He was pronounced dead at Jameson Hospital in New Castle.
The Superintendent of Shenango Township Police Department, William F. Phillips, released a statement Friday morning:
"We are mourning the loss of one of our own. Officer William Jerry McCarthy was a valued member of not only our department, but of all of Lawrence County. He was a great police officer, but more than that he was a great person to all that knew him. His dedication to helping those in need is unsurpassed."
Most recently, McCarthy started working full time as a humane officer with the Lawrence County District Attorney's Office.
He also worked for South New Castle Borough Police until they merged with Shenango Township.
McCarthy began his job as a patrol officer for the Shenango Police a year ago. He was married, with 3 kids, and 2 stepchildren.
KDKA's Paul Martino has reaction from McCarthy's friends and co-workers:
Officer Michael Lynch, 35, was driving the cruiser. He went to Jameson Hospital and was released overnight.
After getting hit, Officer Lynch was able to swerve out of the way of a mini-van that ended up drifting through a yard and hitting a car in a driveway.
Kylee Barletto was taken to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Youngstown with facial lacerations and head injuries.
She is being guarded by police and faces charges of vehicular homicide, aggravated assault by motor vehicle, manslaughter of a law enforcement officer and reckless endangerment.
State police say speeds varied during the chase, but said at the time of impact, the suspect was traveling at a high rate of speed.
Stay with KDKA for the latest information:
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