Penn Hills, PA : Three people were critically injured while crossing guard when a vehicle struck him as he was leaning against a utility pole on Thursday October 2nd 2014

A Penn Hills crossing guard was critically injured Thursday when a vehicle struck him as he was leaning against a utility pole, waiting for students after school. An Allegheny County Sheriff's deputy who was driving home when the crash occurred at 3:30 p.m. near the intersection of Hulton and Saltsburg roads helped the driver and her son out of the burning wreckage. They were taken to the hospital as a precaution, authorities said. “Witnesses told us that the woman was driving up Hulton Road toward Frankstown at what appeared to be a high rate of speed,” Penn Hills police Chief Howard Burton said. “The vehicle jumped the curb and onto the sidewalk where the school guard was leaning against the utility pole,” Burton said. “The guard was thrown about 25 to 30 feet into the middle of the intersection.” He remained hospitalized in critical condition Thursday night, Burton said. Sheriff's deputy James Scholtz saw the crash and noticed flames coming from the hood and smoke filling the wrecked car. “I asked the lady driver if she was OK. She was kinda confused and disoriented. I knew I had to get her and her 4-year-old son, who was in a car seat in the back, out,” said Scholtz, a 17-year veteran officer who normally works transporting prisoners between court and Shuman Juvenile Detention Center. “I helped her remove her seat belt, and she pretty much got out on her own,” Scholtz said. “I told her I needed her to get clear.” The child, sitting in the gathering smoke, was scared and screaming for his mother. “He was yelling, ‘Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!' I reassured him everything was fine,” Scholtz said. Scholtz was carrying the child out of the wreckage as firefighters, who heard the call on their radios, began arriving in their private vehicles. He put the child in his vehicle, ran to help the crossing guard as paramedics arrived and then helped firefighters grab fire extinguishers from a nearby daycare center and other businesses to put out the fire. “None of our students were involved in or witnessed the accident,” Penn Hills School District spokesperson Teresita Kolenchak said. Sandy Bollinger, 42, who lives across the street from the crash scene, said she was familiar with the crossing guard but did not know his name. She said he is “a “very, very, very sweet man.” Bollinger said her 6-year-old daughter, who crosses Hulton Road each morning, is “devastated,” although she didn't see the crash. Source : Penn Hills school crossing guard among three injured in fiery crash