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Police Officer Struck By Out-Of-Control Vehicle Near CONSOL Energy Center

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A police officer was taken to the hospital late Tuesday night after officials say he was run over by an apparent out-of-control driver near CONSOL Energy Center.

It all started around 9:30 p.m. as fans were leaving the arena following the Pittsburgh Penguins game. It happened at Washington Place at the intersection with Centre Avenue.

That's where a silver car hit a utility pole, knocking it over and bringing down live wires, which trapped some people in their cars.

Pittsburgh Police identify the driver as 27-year-old Samantha Reabe of Delmont. She was leaving the Penguins game when it happened. Reabe will face charges of DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, and reckless endangerment.

samantha_Reabe
(Photo Courtesy: Pittsburgh Police)

According to Pittsburgh Police spokeswoman Sonya Toler, two Pittsburgh Police officers were in a nearby garage and came out because of the commotion.

When they tried to stop the driver, Toler says the silver car ran over one of the officers. The other officer, says Toler, fired one shot at the car, but it's not yet known if the bullet hit the car.

"They were trying to get him to calm down and they were talking to him cause he was on the ground and they were trying not to get him to move until the ambulance showed up," said one witness. "She just totally plowed over him and then hit the pole."

KDKA has learned that Sgt. Gene Hlavac is the officer who fired his gun. His attorney says Hlavac used reasonable force in a dangerous situation.

"When you're faced with imminent danger and no one gets hurt in an incident like this, I do think that he acted bravely and his partner did as well," said Phil DiLucente, the officer's attorney.

The silver car also hit three other vehicles in the incident. A fourth vehicle was damaged when one of the other vehicles slid down the hill and crashed into it.

"A car [came] through the intersection, knocked the light pole over and she hit the car in front of us, backed up, then she went forward again, and then hit our truck," said another witness. "Then, backed up again, got on the street and I yelled over to the policeman. I said, 'You better get her; she's trying to get away.'"

The silver car finally came to a stop when it ended up crashing onto a median and into another utility pole.

"She hit this pole over here, knocked that over completely, and then she tried backing up, and as she backed up, the two traffic cops finally approached her," one witness said. "She puts it in forward and just runs the one cop over, completely just runs him over and then she pulls up on to the curb, hits these cars all over here and pulls up into this pole and just crashes straight into the pole. I mean, absolutely insane."

The officer who was struck, identified as John Hamilton, was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital in stable condition and has since been released. Witnesses said he was talking when he was taken from the scene.

Sgt. Hlavac was also checked out as a matter of protocol, but he was not injured. He has been placed on administrative leave for 48 hours.

Reabe was also taken to the hospital and is now being held in the Allegheny County Jail where she is awaiting arraignment.

Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.

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