A tragic hit-and-run incident in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon left one woman dead after being struck by a man driving a U-Haul truck. According to CBS News, the crash occurred around 4:30 p.m. on the 1800 block of East Cambria Street when the driver lost control of the vehicle while attempting a left turn, mounted the curb, and fatally hit the pedestrian.
Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small stated that the woman, appearing to be in her 40s, was walking on the sidewalk when the incident took place. "the U-Haul driver lost control of the U-Haul and jumped the curb struck a pedestrian," Small said in a statement obtained by 6ABC. The U-Haul also damaged a fence and crashed into a residence, though those inside the building were not harmed. With the vehicle embedded in the structure, Philadelphia License and Inspections are set to evaluate the building's safety.
Authorities report that the driver, a 28-year-old man, attempted to flee on foot with his passenger after the crash but were quickly apprehended. The pair was later taken into police custody for further investigation, although no charges had been filed at the time of reporting. Before the fatal crash on Cambria Street, the U-Haul was involved in a separate, minor collision less than a mile away at Kensington and Allegheny avenues, as mentioned by NBC Philadelphia.
After witnessing the crash, Marissa Floyd described the harrowing moment to CBS Philly, saying, "If I had been there 15 seconds later it would have hit me. It was definitely a come to God moment, very scary." The details about whether the U-Haul was legally rented and its contents remain unclear as police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding these events.
Police are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward and contact the Philadelphia Police Department. The investigation into this fatal occurrence is being conducted by the police department’s Crash Investigation Division.
