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Police: Driver May Have Suffered Medical Emergency Before Hitting, Killing Woman In Carnegie

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CARNEGIE (KDKA) -- Police say a woman has died after being struck by a car with such force that witnesses say it sent her airborne and over a fence on Monday afternoon along a busy stretch of road in Carnegie.

According to Allegheny County Police, the driver of the vehicle is believed to have suffered some sort of medical emergency just before the accident.

It happened just after 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of East Main Street and Chestnut Street.

"I jumped out of the way as fast as I could, that car was coming fast," said Robert Schultz, a witness.

Police say the 78-year-old driver was headed eastbound on East Main Street. He stopped for a red light and appeared to suffer a medical event, which caused the vehicle to go off the road and on to the sidewalk.

The 47-year-old victim was walking along the sidewalk when she was struck. Friends are identifying her as Michelle Coleman-Gunnell.

michelle-coleman-gunnell
(Source: Facebook)

Schultz says he was on the corner and saw the car drive down the sidewalk, past a stopped Port Authority bus, and apparently, hit the woman from behind as she walked.

"There was a pedestrian on the sidewalk, and it smashed right into the person, it made a big thud sound," said Schultz.

Brenda Waters' Report:

The car smashed into the fencing surrounding a convenience store parking lot, and the victim landed on the other side of that fence.

"I distinctly heard a thud, and then when I went back that way, she was lying on the other side of the fence, so she must have flown over the fence," Schultz said.

She was rushed to a nearby hospital, but later died from her severe injuries. Another witness said the driver had blood coming down the side of his face.

Allegheny County Police are investigating the accident. They spent hours at the scene on Monday evening.

They are asking anyone with information on the crash to call them at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.

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