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5 people hospitalized after car drifts into crowd at festival in East Liberty

PITTSBURGH — Five people were hospitalized after a car drifted into a crowd at a festival in the East Liberty neighborhood.

Pittsburgh public safety officials say emergency crews were called to Broad Street and Centre Avenue just before 6:30 p.m., where the East Liberty Black Arts Soul Steppin’ Boots on the Ground Wellness Festival Harambee Style and Parade was being held.

There, witnesses told them a slow-moving vehicle with no driver had drifted into the festival’s crowd.

“This is my family! My children, my nieces, my nephews, and we are not here to blame anyone,” Anita Drummond told Channel 11. 

Drummond and her family were hosting the community festival and she agrees with officials, that it was clear the crash was an accident.

The vehicle’s owner stayed on scene and was highly cooperative with police, officials say. He told police he thought he had placed his vehicle in park before getting out.

“This man got out of his car, he didn’t know his car was still running. I don’t know if he thought he parked it, but he got out of the car and that’s when the car ran into my family,” Drummond said. 

Six people were injured, including five women and one man. Five were taken to area hospitals, three in serious but stable condition and two in stable condition. The sixth victim was evaluated and did not want to be transported.

A tent could be seen with materials strewn on the ground underneath.

“It was a freak accident. And probably the gear didn’t shift or something, then it rolled... And unfortunately, people got injuries,” Drummond added. 

Police do not expect to file charges against the driver.

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