Pennsylvania Republicans Demand Accountability Over Democratic State Senate Candidate’s Car Crash

By Pennie Spruill Last updated Sep 2, 2024

Republicans in Pennsylvania want the single-car accident that happened Saturday night involving a Democratic candidate for state Senate to be looked into.

It is agreed upon by both sides that Nicole Ruscitto, who is running against GOP state Sen. Devlin Robinson in the 37th District, which includes a big part of Allegheny County, was in a car accident in Clairton, which is south of Pittsburgh.

#nicoleruscitto had a long day on the campaign trail yesterday. She went to get dinner and was in an accident when she swerved to miss another car. “Thank goodness no one was hurt when police arrived,” the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Campaign Committee said in a tweet early Sunday morning.

Ruscitto shared the post and said, “Thanks to everyone who checked in.” Good to go, ready to hit the doors again today!”

Those comments came after County Councilman and Chairman of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County Sam DeMarco released a statement about the incident on Saturday night. In it, he said, “The facts call for a more thorough investigation than we have been led to believe Clairton Police have conducted.”

DeMarco told PennLive on Sunday that people who saw Ruscitto drinking at the Terrace Gardens bar and diner in Clairton have told them about it. Ruscitto lives in the nearby town of Jefferson Hills. People who were there said Ruscitto hit a table as he was leaving the diner around 5:30 p.m.

Ruscitto’s team said on Sunday that she wasn’t stumbling as she left the restaurant around 4:30 p.m., but they didn’t say anything about whether she had been drinking.

Late Saturday night, the Pennsylvania Senate Republican Campaign Committee (SRCC) posted on X about Ruscitto’s accident, including a picture of a damaged utility pole. On Sunday, they continued, saying that “multiple witnesses” said she was drunk.

“Then why didn’t the police use a breathalyzer?” the SRCC asked. “Was the driver of the other car that was involved check on her so they could back up what she said?”

DeMarco and the SRCC both said that Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi was called to the scene and asked why that happened. However, Lattanzi was not at the scene, according to Ruscitto’s campaign.

PennLive couldn’t get in touch with the mayor right away on Sunday.

DeMarco said that Ruscitto’s car went “along” a slope and “sheared off a utility pole.” Ruscitto’s campaign, on the other hand, said that the car went “down” a hillside.

Again using eyewitness reports, DeMarco said that Clairton police did not give Ruscitto a breathalyzer test and let him leave the scene of the crime.

In a statement made public on Saturday, DeMarco asked that police keep “all evidence” connected to the crash. This includes reports, body camera footage, and footage from patrol cars.

“A full account is needed for an accident this serious involving a public figure,” he said. “Right now, the police need to explain why no breathalyzer was used, given the situation.”