Second Victim Dies Following Fiery Crash on Pittsburgh’s Liberty Bridge

A second person has died from injuries sustained in a multi-vehicle crash on the Liberty Bridge in Pittsburgh over the weekend. Jaren Wilkerson, 28, of Duquesne, died Wednesday at an area hospital, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office [1], more than 72 hours after the incident.

Details of the Crash

The crash occurred early Sunday morning when three vehicles collided on the Liberty Bridge near the Liberty Tunnel. One of the vehicles caught fire, trapping three occupants inside [2]. Laila Jones, 25, of Baldwin Borough, was pronounced dead at the scene [2].

Wilkerson and another victim from Jones’s car were transported to the hospital in critical condition. Madison Rao remains hospitalized in critical condition [2].

Community Support

Following the crash, a memorial was established on the bridge with balloons and a sign reading “Rest with God, Big Laila.” Families of the victims have established GoFundMe pages to help with medical and funeral expenses [2]. These can be found for Jaren Wilkerson [2] and Laila Jones [2].

Ongoing Investigation

Pittsburgh Police have not yet released details regarding the cause of the crash [2]. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office stated that the McKeesport Police Department is investigating Wilkerson’s death, though the crash occurred within Pittsburgh city limits [1].