Police say a man in a rental sports utility vehicle struck and killed a man crossing a North Philadelphia street before dumping the vehicle nearby.
The deadly crash happened just before midnight Friday along Allegheny Avenue near 25th Street in North Philadelphia.
James Barnes, 62, of Philadelphia was crossing the intersection when he was struck by a black Honda CR-V speeding in the westbound lanes, according to police.
The impact sent Barnes up into the air. He then crashed on top of the front hood of a 2015 GMC Terrain before landing on the road. Police say the driver of the GMC tried to help Barnes but it was too late. Barnes was pronounced dead at 12:11 a.m.
The driver of the Honda CR-V fled the scene westbound on Allegheny Avenue and then turned left onto the 3100 block of N. Bambrey Street, according to investigators. The driver then allegedly left the vehicle parked on the sidewalk and fled on foot in an unknown direction.
Investigators said that moments before the crash an officer going in the opposite direction noticed the speeding Honda CRV blowing through traffic signals. The officer made a U-turn but the accident had already happened and the driver had fled, according to police.
Police later found the striking SUV parked nearby on a sidewalk on the 3100 block of Bambrey Street. Police have not released a detailed description of the hit-and-run driver but say he was wearing a white t-shirt and black pants.
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Anyone with information is asked to contact Philadelphia Police.
