A man died Friday night when another man fleeing police struck his mini motorbike at a Wilkinsburg intersection, according to Allegheny County Police.
The fleeing driver, Jack Sherwood, 48, was later wounded when he tried to run down an officer who in turn fired into Sherwood’s car, police said.
Monroeville police officers said they initially spotted Sherwood just before 8 p.m. Aware that Sherwood was wanted on several warrants, officers tried to conduct a traffic stop, at which point Sherwood took off, police said.
Records indicate Sherwood had already fled from police once this week: Court documents show he was charged Aug. 24 with flight to avoid apprehension, fleeing police, reckless endangerment and more than a half dozen moving violations.
He was also wanted on harassment and assault charges stemming from an incident in July, records show.
County police Inspector Kenneth Ruckel said Sherwood led officers into Wilkinsburg, where he struck Luis Hernandez, who was driving a mini motorbike, at the intersection of William Penn Highway and Graham Boulevard.
Hernandez, 39, died a short time later at the hospital.
While investigators took over the scene of the fatal crash, other detectives began searching for Sherwood and his car, Ruckel said.
They found him in his car on Bessica Street near Clark Street. As officers approached, Sherwood took off, trying to strike an officer in the process, according to police.
Ruckel said Sherwood hit the officer’s unmarked police vehicle, and the officer fired “several rounds” into Sherwood’s car.
Sherwood fled through Wilkinsburg and into the East Hills and Homewood sections of Pittsburgh, Ruckel said, before he returned to Clark Street and was ultimately taken into custody.
Sherwood suffered a gunshot wound to his left arm, Ruckel said. He will be taken to the Allegheny County Jail upon his release from the hospital.
Per policy, Pennsylvania State Police will investigate the shooting by the county police officer. The District Attorney’s Office will determine if and what charges should be filled in connection with the fatal crash.
In connection with his alleged attempts to run down the county police officer, Sherwood is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, fleeing police and simple assault. A preliminary hearing has not been scheduled.
