A woman jogging near Clark Park in West Philadelphia was struck and killed by a SEPTA trolley Monday morning, in a collision that left trolley service disrupted for hours and officials yet to identify her. The crash happened around 9:10 a.m. near South 45th Street and Chester Avenue, a busy intersection just steps from the park.
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the woman was jogging southbound on 45th Street when a trolley traveling eastbound on Chester Avenue struck her in the intersection. The Inquirer's report identified the vehicle as a Route 13 trolley. 6abc placed the crash at the same intersection, near Clark Park, though it described the location as Southwest Philadelphia rather than West Philadelphia.
NBC10 Philadelphia reported that police said the woman was headed south on 45th Street when she was struck by the eastbound trolley on Chester Avenue, also describing it as a Route 13 vehicle.
Woman Pronounced Dead at the Scene
Officials said the woman was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:28 a.m., per the NBC10 report. SEPTA confirmed that no one else was injured in the crash, according to the Audacy report. As of Monday, the woman's identity had not been released, and 6abc reported that officials said they had not yet identified her.
The Philadelphia Police Department said the investigation into the deadly crash remained ongoing Monday, per the same NBC10 account. No information about the cause of the collision, fault, or potential charges had been released as of the reporting.
Trolley Service Disrupted, Shuttle Buses Requested
Train service was interrupted while crews worked at the scene, NBC10 reported, citing officials. Separately, according to PHL17, SEPTA directed trolleys to operate on Woodland Avenue in both directions while the scene was addressed, and the agency requested that shuttle buses run between the 40th Street Portal and 49th Street and Woodland Avenue to help move riders around the affected stretch. SEPTA also warned riders of delays and crowded conditions as trolleys were directed to use Woodland Avenue at 49th Street, PHL17 reported.
The crash adds to a broader pattern noted in Philadelphia's own planning documents. A city pedestrian safety action plan has found that pedestrian fatality and injury crashes occurred more often near transit stops, according to the City of Philadelphia. Monday's fatal collision unfolded in exactly that kind of setting, at a transit-heavy intersection near one of West Philadelphia's most heavily used green spaces.
No further updates on the investigation or on service restoration had been confirmed as of Monday. Hoodline will continue to follow the case as police release more information.
