Driver Charged After Two Injured in DUI Crash

A Pittsburgh man faces several DUI-related charges after allegedly causing—and fleeing from—a drunk-driving accident that injured two people.

Nathan Bell, 38, of the Mt. Oliver area of Pittsburgh, was allegedly drunk while he drove southbound on West Liberty Avenue on July 25, causing a traffic accident in Dormont. Police said he also hit a parked car before he was stopped in Mt. Lebanon.

Dormont police responded to the 3100 block of West Liberty Avenue at 10:42 p.m. for a report of an accident with possible injuries.

The victims told police they were stopped on West Liberty, waiting to make a left-hand turn into the A Plus Sunoco station, when a car traveling the opposite direction crossed the center line and struck their car, causing both air bags to deploy.

The offending car then turned into the Sunoco station, struck a guide rail, turned around and continued driving southbound on West Liberty Avenue, the victims said. Several witnesses in the area confirmed the victims’ account of the accident.

Medical Rescue Team South responded and the victims were taken to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment. Their vehicle, which police said sustained heavy front-end damage, was towed.

A short time later, Mt. Lebanon police reported stopping a vehicle matching the offending vehicle’s description on Washington Road near the Cochran Road intersection. The stopped vehicle had heavy front-end damage as well, police said.

According to the police report, Bell, who was driving the car, failed sobriety tests at the scene and was placed under arrest for DUI.

Police said they later received witness reports that a vehicle matching the description and license plate of Bell’s vehicle struck a parked car in the 2800 block of West Liberty Avenue.