A crossing guard remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition after being struck by a car that also hit a utility pole and took down wires Thursday afternoon in Penn Hills.

Witnesses said the car appeared to be speeding as it headed down Hulton Road near Saltsburg Road before it hit a high curb and popped a tire. The driver lost control and the car went through the parking lot of Labriola's Italian Market.

SLIDESHOW: Photos of the Penn Hills crash scene

Police are awaiting results from the investigation and toxicology tests to determine if the 42-year-old female driver will face charges.

Friday morning, several parents were on hand to help their children onto the bus, concerned for the driver's well-being.


"He's a sweetheart, just by the little bit that I got to talk to him, you know, and we're lucky that we got him," said Sandy Bollinger, who walks her daughter to the school bus every day.

"It's devastating when something like that happens, that's basically what we've been worried about forever," Bollinger said.

Several parents say they're upset but not surprised, to hear of a crash at this busy intersection.

"The intersection is very dangerous for me when I'm crossing with my daughter.  I have to triple check to make sure no cars are speeding, but it can be very scary crossing the street," said Chrysten Hill.

Police say they are still investigating Thursday's crash.

"The police and the fire were here almost immediately, and they tried to work on it and they got the baby out," said store owner Leonard Labriola. "The driver of the car seemed to be in shock, to me. She didn't know what happened."

One of the first people to respond to the violent crash was Allegheny County Sheriff's Deputy James Scholtz. He just happened to be driving home when he saw the accident, and pulled over to help.

"As I approached the car, the car caught on fire," Scholtz said. "Flames started to come up from underneath the hood, over top of the windshield."

The deputy said he helped the driver get out of the car, but then noticed the woman's 4-year-old son in a car seat in back.

"He was yelling for his mother, so I got him out and checked the vehicle for anybody else," said Scholtz.

The crossing guard is said to be an older man. Witnesses said he was not talking or moving when medics arrived. Neighbors said he had only been manning the Hulton Road stop for a few weeks.

Allegheny County homicide detectives have been called to help with the investigation because of the severity of the crossing guard's injuries.