The tour bus driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run in Center City told police he was unaware he had struck anyone, according to investigators.
Police spoke with the 66-year-old driver who struck and killed 46-year-old Joseph Heard Tuesday morning.
Heard was in the crosswalk near the intersection of Franklin and Race Streets around 9:45 a.m. when he was struck by the large white Yep Tour Inc. tour bus and dragged approximately 50 feet. Police say 19 passengers were on board 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 and traveled to Washington, DC. The driver later returned to a bus yard on the 2400 block of Swanson Street in South Philadelphia around 3:40 p.m. Tuesday.
During an interview with investigators, the driver claimed he had no idea he had struck someone and that the 19 passengers didn't know either since there are few windows on the bus. Police say the driver has a valid Driver's License and Commercial Driver's License. They also say he had a 2012 violation for Failure to Yield but paid the fine.
Police have not yet determined whether or not they will file any charges.
Yep Tour Inc. President Jeremy Walker told NBC10 the company is cooperating with the investigation but won't comment any further until the investigation is complete. Yep Tour Inc. was already under scrutiny last June after a driver for the company was caught on video texting while driving.
