A funeral took place Wednesday for a Philadelphia Police officer who was struck and killed in a hit-and-run crash along Roosevelt Boulevard last month.
A viewing and service was held for 42-year-old Lamar Poole at 9 a.m. at the First District Plaza on 3801 Market Street in Philadelphia. His internment took place at the Greenmount Cemetery on 4301 N Front Street.
Poole, a 42-year-old 12th district officer who recently entered his 19th year on the force, was riding a Honda VTX motorcycle west on Devereaux Avenue on Aug. 30 when a 1999 Toyota Corolla turning left onto the Boulevard suddenly struck his bike.
The force of the wreck threw Poole, who police say was not wearing a helmet, from his motorcycle. Witnesses told police the driver, identified by investigators as 59-year-old Louis John Vogwill, briefly got out of his car and looked at Poole. Vogwill, who lives on the 6100 block of Loretto Avenue, then allegedly got back into his car and continued driving north on the Boulevard.
Poole, who suffered head injuries and internal injuries, was taken to Frankford Torresdale Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead a short time later.
A tow truck driver, who identified himself to NBC10 as "DJ," said he saw the crash and gave chase after the driver took off. DJ and another driver then boxed in the striking vehicle a couple of blocks up at Harbison Avenue.
"I can't believe this happened," said DJ. "I can't believe I did this."
"Fortunately we had a couple of witnesses, one being a tow truck driver, who followed the vehicle and really helped out big time," said Philadelphia Police Captain John Wilczynski. "He followed the car, pinned the car in and called police."
Responding officers apprehended the driver and took him into custody. In addition to the hit-and-run, police said Vogwill was driving under the influence based on a blood test.
Vogwill is charged with homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and DUI.
Poole died a little more than a week after Philadelphia Police Sgt. Rafael Ali died when his pickup truck slammed into a tree.
"This is two in one week where we've lost one of our own," Wilczynski said. "Everyone's a little bit heartbroken about it."
