Nearby: La Roche Freshman Dies in Crash with Garbage Truck Following Police Chase

Pittsburgh Police are investigating why a La Roche College freshman was behind the wheel of a stolen car which crashed into a garbage truck, ending a police chase in Lawrenceville early this morning, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported.

Sara C. Glaser, 18, of Friendship, died five hours after Tuesday's incident.

Police began following the vehicle shortly before 3:30 a.m. when it pulled onto Liberty Avenue without its headlights on. Rather than stop, the car sped off and eventually slammed into the back of a stopped garbage truck near Liberty and 34th Street, the PG reported.

McCandless police chief Gary Anderson told the Post-Gazette that Glaser's roommate at La Roche reported that her car had been stolen early this morning.

"We were greatly saddened to learn of Sara's death and we extend our deepest sympathies and prayers to her family and friends," La Roche College President Sister Candace Introcaso said in a statement. "As we mourn our loss, we also hold Sara's parents, sister and brother, close to our hearts and in our sincere thoughts and prayers."

According to the Post Gazette, Glaser played basketball for Pittsburgh Allderdice in Squirrel Hill last year and with North Catholic High School and Mount Alvernia prior to that.