A Saturday afternoon ride in Philadelphia’s Frankford neighborhood turned fatal when a vehicle being hauled on a tow truck broke loose, rolled back down the street and slammed into a motorcyclist, police said. The rider was rushed to Temple University Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Officers say the tow truck kept going and never returned, and investigators are now working to track down the driver.
Police: Vehicle broke loose and rolled into rider
Inspector D. F. Pace said the crash unfolded around 4:15 p.m. on the 4000 block of Frankford Avenue, according to CBS Philadelphia. Surveillance video reviewed by detectives shows the towed vehicle suddenly detaching from the rig, rolling backward with no one behind the wheel and slamming into the motorcyclist. The tow truck then continued away from the scene.
The victim was pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital just before 4:50 p.m., Pace said. A short time later, officers located the tow truck near 1026 E. Lycoming Street in the Juniata Park area, according to CBS Philadelphia.
Tow truck trouble adds to industry scrutiny
The deadly crash lands at a time when Philadelphia’s towing industry is already under a harsh spotlight. Recent violent incidents involving tow operators, including shootings that left several drivers dead and sparked a citywide manhunt earlier this month, have raised alarms about what is happening on and around those trucks, as reported by PhillyVoice.
Those cases have fueled renewed debate over oversight and safety in a business critics say can be marked by rough competition and volatile encounters on the street. Neighbors say crashes and disputes tied to tow operations only deepen broader worries about traffic safety in parts of Northeast Philadelphia.
Detectives hunt for driver, piece together chain of events
Police say they have been in touch with the company that employs the tow truck driver and are working to confirm the operator’s identity and find him, according to CBS Philadelphia. Investigators are combing through surveillance video from the area and urging anyone with footage or information about the crash to contact authorities.
The name of the motorcyclist has not yet been released, as police say they are waiting to notify the victim’s family before making his identity public.
