Car crashes into synagogue’s steps

A car crashed into the front steps of a Pittsburgh-area synagogue.

No one was injured in Tuesday night’s crash at Congregation Poale Zedeck Congregation in Squirrel Hill. The car reached the first landing of the stairs leading to the synagogue and did not hit the actual building, the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle reported. Police are investigating.

According to witnesses, two men exited the heavily damaged Nissan Altima and began running up Shady Avenue as the congregants inside for evening services came outside. About a dozen congregants chased the men, who were quickly caught and held until police arrived.

It is unclear whether the crash was intentional. Police had no comment.

Congregant Rocky Wice tackled the car’s driver after he had run a few blocks.

“We held him down and he was ranting about how God sent him, saying ‘God is my father and I love the Jews,’ ” Wice said. “He did not struggle. He was very incoherent.”

Wice added that the initial impact of the crash made “the whole building shudder.”