Allegheny Police officer hurt in head-on collision with suspect in Turtle Creek

An Allegheny County Police officer suffered minor injuries Saturday night when a man fleeing a domestic incident drove head-on into his police car in Turtle Creek, authorities said.

Jestin Towner, 18, of Turtle Creek, faces more than a dozen offenses in connection to the 5:50 p.m. incident, including aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and fleeing or attempting to elude police, according to online court records.

The incident began when Turtle Creek police were called to a residence in the 100 block of Ninth Street in response to a 911 call about a domestic disturbance involving a gun.

On the scene of a car crash involving an Allegheny County Police car on Airbrake Avenue, Turtle Creek. #WPXI pic.twitter.com/10k4c1d3k2

— Shelley Bortz WPXI (@WPXIShelley) October 26, 2019

When officers arrived, the suspect, later identified as Towner, drove off in a vehicle, police said. Turtle Creek police requested backup from neighboring police departments and attempted to follow the suspect.

As Towner drove away, he collided head-on with an Allegheny County Police officer who had been responding to the backup request at the intersection of Ninth Street and Airbrake Avenue, police said.

Police tell Channel 11 the officer involved in this crash was taken to a local hospital. He is alert and stable. #WPXI pic.twitter.com/yieFyyzRNL

— Shelley Bortz WPXI (@WPXIShelley) October 26, 2019

The officer was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released for neck and torso injuries, police said. Towner was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for injuries and evaluated for mental health purposes, police said.

Police said Towner will be arrested and lodged in the Allegheny County Jail once he is released from the hospital.