Man arrested after fleeing collision in Pittsburgh's South Side

A man who allegedly caused a head-on crash early Friday morning on East Carson Street had to be tackled by officers as he tried to flee the scene, according to charges filed by Pittsburgh police.

Officers patrolling the area were flagged down shortly before 3 a.m. for a crash near the intersection of East Carson and 10th streets, according to the criminal complaint. Police arrived and found a head-on collision between a red Dodge Charger and a black Jeep Liberty.

Responding officers had to use the jaws of life to get three women out of the Jeep, said a police spokeswoman. All were injured

The driver of the Charger, police wrote, began walking away from the scene and ignored orders to stop. An officer tackled the man, identified as 24-year-old Andre Perkins, and forcibly handcuffed him, according to the complaint.

Three witnesses told officers the same story, according to the complaint: the Dodge Charge drove into oncoming traffic and collided with the Jeep.

The three women were taken to the hospital in serious but stable condition, though two were later downgraded to critical condition, according to the complaint.

Police said Perkins was taken to UPMC Mercy in stable condition, and officers noted they “observed multiple signs of impairment,” according to the complaint.

Perkins is charged with multiple counts of driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence and accidents involving injuries, along with other charges including driving with a suspended license and traffic violations.

Court documents listed no attorney for Perkins as of Friday afternoon. A preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled.