Bus Strikes Man in Deadly Hit-&-Run Near Police Headquarters in Downtown Philadelphia

UPDATE: Bus driver speaks out. NEW DETAILS HERE 


Police are interviewing a bus driver they believe was involved in a deadly hit-and-run that happened only steps from police headquarters in Center City Philadelphia Tuesday.

The incident happened about 9:45 a.m. near the intersection of Franklin and Race Streets.

Investigators say 46-year-old Joseph Heard was in the crosswalk when he was struck by a large white tour bus from Yep Tour Inc. in Chinatown and dragged approximately 50 feet. Police say 19 passengers were on the bus at the time.

Heard was rushed to Hahnemann University Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Police say they found headphones at the scene of the crash though they're unsure if they belonged to Heard.

After striking Heard, the driver of the bus left the scene and kept going northbound on Franklin Street. Investigators said there is a possibility the driver did not even know he struck someone.

Surveillance video showed the bus continuing north on 7th street towards I-95 moments after the crash. Police say the bus traveled to Washington, DC. The bus returned to the bus yard on the 2400 block of Swanson Street in South Philadelphia around 3:45 p.m. Officials are currently inspecting the bus and police are interviewing the driver.

The ticket taker told NBC10 she called the driver of the bus after police arrived at the scene of the crash. The driver told her everything was alright and was unaware he had struck someone, according to the ticket taker.

Yep Tour Inc. was already under scrutiny last June after a driver for the company was caught on video texting while driving.

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