PITTSBURGH — A 30-year-old Butler County off-duty municipal police officer was killed Wednesday night in a motorcycle crash on the Liberty Bridge in Pittsburgh.

Kristine Bartman of Jackson Township, a part-time patrol officer for the Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police Department, was pronounced dead at Mercy Hospital at 11:23 p.m., less than half an hour after the wreck.

“Our entire department is reeling,” police Chief Joe McCombs said this morning. “Kristine was an outstanding officer and so well-liked and respected. It’s tough.”

Pittsburgh police continue to investigate the crash and an autopsy was planned today, according to a supervisor at the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.

An accident report was not immediately available but investigators said the crash happened at 10:56 p.m. when the motorcycle Bartman was driving and a car collided on the bridge between downtown and the city’s South Hills.

Police said Bartman was wearing a helmet, but they released no other details.

An accident reconstruction team was at the scene investigating until after midnight, authorities said.

A Pittsburgh police commander, after learning that Bartman was a police officer, called McCombs just minutes after the wreck.

“That’s how I heard about it,” McCombs said.

The chief, in turn, notified his officers. The entire force quickly headed to Mercy Hospital.

“We wanted to be there to support her and her family,” McCombs said.

He and most of his officers got there about 12:30 a.m. today.

Bartman was married. She had no children.

Bartman was a member of the Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police Department for about a year and a half. She had not worked for another department when she was hired.

“In a short time here,” McCombs said, “she had become a phenomenal police officer. There’s not enough that can be said about her.”

Kim Armstrong, vice president of the Evans City Borough Council and a member of the regional police commission, echoed McCombs’ sentiments about the job done by Bartman.

“She was so dedicated, and worked very well with the other officers,” Armstrong said. “I think she really enjoyed her job, and she made it a priority to be a good officer.”

Like everyone who knew Bartman, Armstrong’s immediate thoughts upon hearing the tragic news were of those closest to her.

“My prayers go out to her family and friends as they go through this tragic time,” Armstrong said.

Council President Lee Dyer said an alarm recently went off at his house and Bartman was the officer who responded.

“We had some time to chat, and she was a terrific person and a fine officer,” Dyer said. “The people in the community loved her.”

Dyer said that he received a text at 1:30 a.m. about Bartman’s death.

“I’ve been up since then,” Dyer said at 9 a.m. today. “I’m deeply saddened at the loss.”

Evans City Mayor Dean Zinkhann recalled that Bartman was a health conscious person who ate right and lifted weights.

“It’s just so shocking,” Zinkhann said. “She was a very strong officer. It’s unbelievable.”

Zinkhann said Evans City and Seven Fields lost not only a committed and talented officer, but a top- notch person as well.

“The community loved and respected her,” he said. “She was such an excellent person and officer.”

All three borough officials said some type of memorial display or fund will no doubt be set up in the coming days, but they did not know when.

Eagle staff writer Paula Grubbs contributed to this report.