A Wilkinsburg man who struck and killed a man during a police chase reaching speeds of over 100 mph pleaded guilty Tuesday to homicide by vehicle and dozens of other counts.
A criminal complaint filed in the case said Monroeville police tried to pull over an SUV driven by Jack Lamont Sherwood, 40, around 8 p.m. Aug. 22, 2022, after discovering that he was wanted on a felony warrant.
Sherwood refused to stop and an officer pursued him on William Penn Highway. Just before 8:30 p.m., Sherwood went through a red light at Graham Boulevard and struck a mini-bike driven by Luis Hernandez, 38, who died from his injuries.
Sherwood fled from the scene of the crash, but police spotted the vehicle about two hours later on Bessica Street.
As officers approached, Sherwood took off again, trying to strike an officer as he did. Sherwood struck the unmarked police car, prompting the officer to fire several rounds into Sherwood’s vehicle. He was struck in the arm but kept driving. Police chased him through Wilkinsburg, East Hills and Homewood before taking him into custody.
Police said Sherwood’s SUV reached 107 mph during the pursuit as he drove on William Penn Highway. According to data collected from Sherwood’s SUV, he was traveling 51 mph when he crashed into the mini-bike.
In addition to homicide by vehicle, Sherwood pleaded guilty to charges including aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, fleeing, causing an accident involving death while not licensed, DUI, reckless driving and a slew of traffic charges. Sherwood faces a mandatory penalty of 10 to 20 years in state prison for aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
Sherwood, who has been held in Allegheny County Jail since his arrest, is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13.
