A 16-year-old is fighting for life after a silver Jeep slammed into the teen on Cottman Avenue at Horrocks Street in Northeast Philadelphia on Monday afternoon. The collision happened around 3 p.m., and medics rushed the teen to a nearby hospital with severe head and leg injuries. Philadelphia police say the case remains an active hit-and-run investigation.
What Police Say Happened
According to CBS Philadelphia, officers say a silver Jeep Liberty struck the teen while the pedestrian was crossing Horrocks Street on Cottman Avenue, and the driver initially took off. A witness followed the Jeep and passed the license plate information to police, who later found the vehicle parked on Large Street, authorities told CBS Philadelphia. Police described the driver as a 20-year-old man who then went to the 2nd Police District to report the crash; officials have not publicly released his name.
How To Report Tips
Investigators say the probe is ongoing and they are urging anyone who knows anything about the crash to speak up. Tipsters can call 215.686.TIPS (8477) or use the department’s online tip form, according to the Philadelphia Police Department. Tips can be submitted anonymously. In an emergency, residents should call 911.
Street Safety Context
Cottman Avenue and nearby corridors sit on the city’s High Injury Network, the relatively small slice of streets where a disproportionate share of serious crashes take place. The city’s Vision Zero dashboard shows that roughly 80 percent of traffic deaths and serious injuries occur on about 12 percent of streets, a concentration that city officials say they are targeting with street redesigns and stepped-up enforcement. Local advocates and agencies have been pushing for changes on these high-risk corridors in an effort to cut down on severe crashes like Monday’s.
Investigation Ongoing
Officers with the Crash Investigation Division are continuing to interview witnesses and review evidence linked to the hit-and-run. As CBS Philadelphia reports, police located and inspected the parked Jeep on Large Street, and officials say the driver later appeared at the 2nd Police District to report the crash. Anyone with video or other information from the area around Cottman Avenue and Horrocks Street is encouraged to contact police.
