Teen boy killed, another hurt in Wilkinsburg car crash

WILKINSBURG, Pa. — A 15-year-old boy was killed and a 16-year-old boy was injured in a fiery car crash in Wilkinsburg Sunday morning.

The Allegheny County Police Department said 911 dispatchers were notified of the crash at the intersection of Swissvale Avenue and Wallace Avenue after 7:20 a.m.

Investigators said the car hit a utility pole and then caught fire.

Adam Edwards, who lives on Wallace Avenue, said the crash woke him up just before 7:30 a.m.

“I heard the wheels squealing, screeching,” he said. “Then, I heard a loud boom.”

Edwards and other frantic neighbors rushed outside to see the car up in flames.

“I came out here and the lady up the street was screaming, ‘Call 911. Call 911.’”

He was taking a cell phone video when he quickly realized people were still inside.

“I’m trying to scramble, like what can I do?” said Edwards.

Edwards said he ran to get a fire extinguisher and a bucket of water from his house but they were no match for the fierce flames.

“Halfway down the street, you can feel the heat from the flames. That’s how hot it was. It was really intense. It melted the wires above the pole for the streetlights,” he said. “The flames were so intense that when I got halfway down, I heard the gas tank explode, boom.”

That’s when Edwards said someone rushed over and pulled the passenger out of the car away from the fire likely saving his life.

Fire crews and first responders arrived moments later. They found the driver, who has been identified as Andre Gray, dead. The passenger was found in stable condition.

“It was so intense, that person had no chance of surviving,” said Edwards.

Allegheny County Police tell Channel 11 that the car was reported stolen soon before the crash occurred.

“Something has to happen,” said Teya Johnson, who used to live in the area. “There’s young juveniles dying. Come on now.”

Flowers now sit at the crash site in memory of the victim.

“It’s becoming a lot more and more little memorials I’ve seen,” Johnson said. “It’s getting sad a little bit.”

Anyone with information about the crash should call the County Police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.

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