Suspect killed by officers after stealing police car, crashing on PA Turnpike

NORTH SEWICKLEY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A man police say stole an Ohio State Highway Patrol cruiser on the Ohio Turnpike and led police on a high-speed chase into Pennsylvania was shot and killed on the Pennsylvania Turnpike after crashing that cruiser.

Dramatic video of the moments that led to that cruiser being stolen was caught on camera by Greg Venbrux of Wexford. He was driving home from Ohio. Venbrux saw a car flipped on the side highway about 10 to 15 miles before the Pennsylvania state line on the Ohio Turnpike.

“I just happened to be I guess there when the fight was taking place, and just weird timing,” Venbrux told Channel 11′s Andrew Havranek.

After seeing that car flipped, he saw commotion ahead in the middle of the highway.

“It looked like it was a pretty intense struggle at that point and then at a certain point another witness who was there intervened and distracted the suspect enough such that he got off the officer and then proceeded to steal the patrol car,” Venbrux said.

Troopers chased the suspect into Pennsylvania. That’s where we were told the suspect crashed and flipped that cop car. Drone 11 flew over that scene Friday evening.

After the crash, sources say the suspect was then shot and killed

Venbrux said he then drove by the scene just east of Beaver Falls and saw the cruiser flipped over. He said the whole thing was surreal

“This is something you see on COPS or some sort of reality show, but it’s in real time,” he said.

Crews have the eastbound turnpike lanes from New Castle exit 10 to Cranberry shut down.

Drivers are asked to travel on I-376 West to Route 422, to Route 79 South to get to the Cranberry Interchange (Exit 28). After getting there, drivers can get back on the Turnpike.

Channel 11 has reached out to state police in Pennsylvania and Ohio to get more information. We have not yet heard back.

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