Philadelphia police are appealing to the public for help identifying and locating the driver of a commercial van involved in a serious hit-and-run accident Monday night that left a 56-year-old woman in critical condition. In this article we talk about: Police Seeking Help Identifying the Driver, What Happened to 3 Philadelphia Pedestrians.
The incident occurred around 9 p.m. when the van struck three pedestrians crossing Street near the intersection of East Venango Street in the city’s Kensington neighborhood.
According to police, the dark-colored van had just veered around another vehicle traveling east on East Venango Street when it hit two men aged 32 and 59 along with the 56-year-old woman as they were crossing B Street.
After striking the pedestrians, the van made a right onto B Street and fled south down the street. Police said the van is believed to have red and white logos on both sliding side doors, which should make it recognizable. However, investigators do not currently know the make, model or license plate of the vehicle.
“This van with logos on the side is rather unique. Someone will recognize this van,” said Captain Robert Heinzeroth of the Philadelphia Police Department’s Crash Investigation Division at a news conference Tuesday.
The 56-year-old female victim, who has not been publicly identified, suffered major head trauma and internal injuries. She remains in critical condition at Temple University Hospital.
The two male victims had minor wrist injuries and are in stable condition at local hospitals.
Given the speed the van was traveling and the significant impact of the collision, police believe there is no way the driver could have been unaware they struck multiple pedestrians.
“To strike one person in a hit-and-run is unconscionable. But to strike three and just keep going, it’s exceptionally callous,” Heinzeroth said.
Hit-and-Run Epidemic in Philadelphia
This latest hit-and-run case comes as Philadelphia continues to grapple with an epidemic of drivers fleeing crash scenes.
According to police statistics, hit-and-run crashes surged nearly 20% in 2021 to over 2,800 incidents. Nearly 30 of those crashes resulted in fatalities, which was also a substantial increase over the prior year.
The early numbers for 2024 indicate hit-and-runs remain prevalent on Philadelphia streets.
Many pedestrian safety advocates argue the city must do more to curb reckless driving through increased traffic enforcement and road design changes to protect people walking.
In the meantime, investigators are pleading with the public to be on the lookout for the commercial van involved in Monday’s incident.
Anyone who spots a van matching the description or has information about the suspect driver should contact the Philadelphia Police Department’s Crash Investigation Division at 215-685-3180. Information given to police can be confidential.
With the female victim still fighting for her life, police are hoping a witness comes forward soon so the van driver does not remain on the loose. I sincerely hope you find this “Police Seeking Help Identifying the Driver, What Happened to 3 Philadelphia Pedestrians” article helpful.
Skylar Lacey, a Travel and Tourism Management graduate from Temple University, offers 5 years of experience in travel writing and airport logistics at PhiladelphiaAirport.net. Her expertise helps travelers make the most of their journeys through Philadelphia International Airport. Connect with her on Instagram for more travel tips and insights.
