A dump truck crashed through the front security gate at the FBI building on the South Side on Tuesday morning, and authorities believe it was an intentional act by the driver.
Pittsburgh police said Thomas Richard Ross, 48, of New Waterford, Ohio, drove through eight or nine red lights and refused their commands to pull over as he headed toward the FBI building on East Carson Street.
FBI Supervisory Special Agent Greg Heeb said the large vehicle rammed the gate and briefly went airborne after impact before it came to rest in an employee parking lot. Sky 4 video showed the damaged truck resting against a light pole.
“He was apparently driving erratically in the area. He ran a couple of red lights, possibly a stop sign,” Heeb said. “Pittsburgh police attempted to initiate a traffic stop. He failed to stop immediately. They pulled him over eventually, close to our building. There was a brief exchange with the officer. He indicated to the officer that he was intending to ram the gate. He did just that — put his truck back into gear, took off and went through the gate here at our headquarters.”