A man was killed in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry section by a hit-and-run driver who is still on the loose, police reported. The tragic incident occurred late Thursday on the 2900 block of Grays Ferry Avenue, a night that ended in horror for a 64-year-old whose identity has yet to be disclosed.
Resident Sewa Arya told NBC10, “We have a liquor store here, we have a bank, we have a post office, so people are coming back and forth here, this is a high-traffic area anyway,” noting the dangers of the busy street where the accident occurred, although the corner at 30th Street and Grays Ferry Avenue is equipped with the apparent safety of a crosswalk, such provisions tragically proved insufficient for the victim hit at approximately 10 p.m.
Evidence left behind including debris from the vehicle and surveillance videos from nearby businesses and a SEPTA bus indicated the car was a charcoal-colored Honda Accord, not a Dodge Charger as was initially suspected, "They need to put bumpers, speed bumps. They got em' in areas where you don't need them, but then you don't have them where you really need them,” Pamela Keith, a resident of Southwest Philadelphia, told CBS News in expressing frustration and signaling the need for better traffic calming measures.
Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small spoke to how the victim was dragged about 100 feet after being struck with such force that he was knocked out of one of his boots, per 6abc.com, while a cell phone thought to belong to the male victim was also recovered; the driver involved continued on their way without a pause in their escape.
This incident marks the seventh fatal hit-and-run in the city since the start of the year. With the suspect still at large Philly cops are urging anyone with information to step forward and contact the Philadelphia Police Department at 215-686-TIPS to assist in the investigation.
