Philadelphia police are on the hunt for a hit-and-run driver after a 64-year-old man was struck and killed in the Grays Ferry neighborhood Thursday night. The fatal incident occurred at the intersection of Grays Ferry Avenue and 30th Street around 10 p.m., as confirmed by FOX 29.
A light-colored Honda Accord, traveling east on Grays Ferry Avenue, is said to have disregarded a red light before hitting the elderly pedestrian, who was crossing legally within the crosswalk. In a harrowing aftermath, witnesses told 6ABC that the vehicle plowed into the man with enough force to drag him approximately 100 feet and knock him from one of his boots.
As the investigation deepens, Chief Inspector Scott Small provided a grim detail to 6ABC, stating, "Our victim was hit with such force that he was knocked out of one of his boots and we also found a cell phone that possibly belonged to the victim." Police have not yet disclosed the identity of the deceased as they likely work to notify next of kin.
Evidence scattered at the scene included the victim's boot, a potential cellphone, and distinctive car parts that have led authorities to update the suspect vehicle description to a charcoal-colored Dodge Charger, NBC Philadelphia reports. The severity of the collision left the man with catastrophic injuries, and despite being rushed to the hospital, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The Philadelphia Police Department continues to scour for leads and urges the public to come forward with any information that might assist in apprehending the individual responsible for this tragedy. In a city where the streets are shared by drivers and pedestrians alike, the elusive perpetrator remains a stark reminder of the vigilance needed by all and the consequences that echo when it is absent.
