Man leads state police on 100 mph chase through Squirrel Hill Tunnel; Jeep crashes, burns

A driver led state police on a 100 mph car chase early Saturday through the Squirrel Hill Tunnel that ended with the man’s Jeep crashing into trees and catching on fire in Monroeville, officials said.

Officials arrested the driver, Dean Jarreaun Marbury, 39, of Pittsburgh and booked him into Allegheny County Jail, state police Trooper Melinda Bondarenka said.

The incident started shortly after 2 a.m., when a trooper attempted to pull over the Jeep Cherokee for driving more than 100 mph on the Parkway East through the Squirrel Hill Tunnel, Bondarenka said. The Jeep sped off and police gave chase.

At one point, the Jeep’s driver appeared to pull over, but when patrol cars approached, he took off again. The Jeep “brushed the right side of the trooper” before continuing outbound, Bondarenka said. The trooper was not injured.

The Jeep exited the Parkway East at Monroeville and tried to get back onto Interstate 376 westbound before making a U-turn toward a local road, Bondarenka said. The driver switched off the Jeep’s lights and continued to flee from police.

“Patrols briefly lost sight of the Jeep,” then found it in flames smashed against an embankment, Bondarenka said.

The driver made it out of the car and began running from police, who caught him soon after.

Monroeville police assisted state police in the chase.

Marbury refused a chemical test, Bondarenka said.

He faces 22 charges, including felony charges of aggravated assault and evading arrest, along with a litany of traffic violations, public drunkenness and drunken driving, court records show.

A judge denied him bail, citing the suspect as “wanted” and a “flight risk,” court records show.

In February 2018, Marbury pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture or deliver it, court records show. He was sentenced to 76 days in jail and three years on probation. He pleaded guilty to the same charge in 2014 and was sentenced to 54 days in jail.

Marbury’s preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 10.