Community shares messages of support for Mars teen injured in vehicle-pedestrian crash
A 13-year-old girl hit by a vehicle Tuesday evening on Route 228 near Mars Area Middle School is being treated in UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh with serious injuries.
The girl, identified as Paige Lauten, is an eighth grade student at Mars middle school and the daughter of Burt Lauten, senior director of communications for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A preliminary investigation showed that the girl was attempting to cross Route 228 from Mars Area Middle School and walked in front of an oncoming vehicle, Chief Shawn Anglum of the Adams Township Police Department said in a Wednesday statement. Crews were dispatched to respond around 5:31 p.m.
Police said the driver of the vehicle remained on scene and has cooperated fully during the investigation. Traffic was rerouted at the intersection of Route 228 and Three Degree Road. The road was closed for the crash investigation for nearly three hours.
A Facebook page, Prayers for Paige L, was created Tuesday and already gartnered more than 1000 followers by 5:30 p.m., and numerous comments from individuals voicing their support for Paige and her family.
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