By Chuck Biedka
The Valley News-Dispatch
VANDERGRIFT, Pa. — A Vandergrift police officer and a garbage truck driver were hospitalized after being struck by a car just before 9 a.m. today.
According to police, Officer Richard “Joe” Gray fired multiple shots at the black Chevrolet Impala while in the parking lot of Kochka and Sons along Sherman Avenue. Witnesses said Gray, 45, was yelling at the driver of the car to stop after the vehicle struck an ice machine and another vehicle outside of Kochka’s store.
Brent Miller, a foreman with Vandergrift’s public works department said he and fellow garbage truck driver Glenn Rupert, 49, who was struck by the car, were sitting on a bench outside of Kochka’s speaking with Gray when the incident happened.
“Everything happened so fast,” Miller said.
The Impala first struck an ice machine then grazed the side of Kochka’s building before hitting a pickup truck just outside the store. That’s when, Miller said, Officer Gray began yelling at the driver to stop. The car then reversed, stopped and, when it began moving again, struck Gray and Rupert.
Rupert was being treated at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison, according to a hospital spokeswoman. His condition was not yet available. Police said Gray was transported to Forbes Hospital in Monroeville. His condition also was not available.
The driver of the car, Charles Pencak, 67, of Vandergrift, is in the custody of state police, who are handling the investigation.
Witnesses said Pencak was yelling that his car was malfunctioning and the accelerator pedal had stuck, causing the car to go out of control.
At least two shots fired by Gray hit the windshield of the Impala. Pencak was not injured.
Stacey Johnson, 31, of Parks Township, said she managed to pull her sister out of the way of the car and saw Gray “thrown into the air” when the car hit him. She said Gray got back up and fired at the car twice as it still was moving.
She said Gray then collapsed to the ground and the car stopped at one of the entrances to Kochka’s lot.