PITTSBURGH — A tragic crash along Interstate 376 claimed the life of a 31-year-old Pittsburgh woman after her vehicle plunged from the Parkway East into the icy Monongahela River on Thursday afternoon.
Authorities identified the victim as Jacinta Stevens, a resident of Pittsburgh’s West End. According to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office, first responders were dispatched around 4:30 p.m. on January 29 to the area of Second Avenue near UPMC Mercy, following reports that a vehicle had gone over the roadway and into the river below.
Pennsylvania State Police reported that Stevens was driving a Ford Explorer outbound on I-376 when she lost control of the SUV near mile marker 73. The vehicle reportedly crossed several lanes of traffic, struck a snowbank along the shoulder, and breached a concrete barrier before falling more than 100 feet into the river.
Rescue crews, including dive teams, entered the frigid water shortly after 5:20 p.m. Using specialized equipment, responders were able to locate the submerged vehicle and recover Stevens approximately 25 minutes later. She was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to her injuries. Officials estimate she remained underwater for up to an hour before being rescued.
The cause of the crash has not yet been determined and remains under active investigation.
Stevens was employed by the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh. In a statement, HACP Chief Community Affairs Officer Michelle Sandidge expressed the organization’s grief, saying staff members are mourning the sudden loss and extending condolences to Stevens’ family while awaiting further details about the accident.
The incident has deeply affected both the local community and Stevens’ colleagues, as investigators continue working to understand what led to the deadly crash.