A young woman and man were killed this morning when another car blew through a stop sign, according to police, and hit their car with such force that it caught fire. The couple had to be pulled from the wreckage and neighbors tried to save them, but it was too late.
The woman, 26 and her passenger, a 31-year-old man were both pronounced dead at the scene. Now the man who allegedly drove through the stop sign is charged with driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while DUI and murder. Police identified him Thursday night as George Vidra, 26.
The sounds of the two-car crash drove people from their homes before 8:30 a.m. Neighbors tried to help the man and woman as their car began to catch fire.
"The car was on fire. I put the fire out. I administered CPR to a lady and she passed," Ron Anderson told NBC10's Deanna Durante at the scene -- Ditman and Disston Streets in Tacony.
Gary Hall tried to help Anderson. "He pulled the door open to actually pull them because they were pinned down. The driver was on top of the passenger," Hall said.
Police have not released the identities of the victims because family members are still being notified.
Witnesses say Vidra was walking around and crying after the crash.
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"You could hear the red car open its engine up so he could go faster," said Hall. "And I know from what he told me that he tried to open it up and then he tried to slow down and he pressed the gas instead of the brake."
Vidra was treated at the hospital for minor injuries, where blood samples were also taken.
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