A young girl was hospitalized after a hit-and-run in the Parkside section of West Philadelphia late Tuesday afternoon, according to police.
Investigators say 9-year-old Aijahanae Johnson was riding her bike near her home on the 4800 block of Merion Avenue when she was struck by a car. The vehicle, driven by a woman in her early 20s, then left the scene, according to police.
Police say the suspect drove a dark blue Cadillac.
"She goes up on the sidewalk, comes down off the sidewalk in front of me," said Angela Norman, who witnessed the hit-and-run. "I put my car in drive, OK, because I'm not letting her get away."
Norman, with her brother in the passenger seat, drove after the driver for several blocks before the driver managed to get away. The car was last seen in the area of 49th and Thompson Streets, according to investigators.
Aijahanae suffered non-life-threatening cuts and scrapes on the left side of her body and left side of her forehead. She was taken to the Children's Hospital where she was listed in stable condition early Wednesday.
"How could you just leave a human being knowing that the person may die?" asked the girl's cousin, Porsha Powell.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Powell hugged Norman, thanking her for trying to stop the driver.
"She was willing to risk her life at the same time as another life was at risk," said Powell. "To help a child that she didn't even know."
Anyone with information on the identity of the alleged hit-and-run driver or whereabouts of the Cadillac should contact Philadelphia Police at 215-686-8477.
Fan, follow and download: Get the latest from NBCPhiladelphia.com anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, our mobile site and NBC Philadelphia. Sign up for our breaking news newsletter. And, get breaking news delivered right to your mobile phone -- just text PHIBREAKING to 639710 to sign up. (Message and data rates may apply.)
