A man died after being struck by a driver who fled the scene in Northeast Philadelphia overnight, Philadelphia police said.
The deadly hit-and-run took place late on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, -- just before midnight -- along the 1800 block of Torresdale Avenue, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said. The scene is not far from SEPTA's Market-Frankford el, a Dunkin' and other stores.
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WATCH HERE"This is a fatal hit-and-run," Small said in the hours after the crash.
Police officers and medics found an unresponsive man in his 40s "suffering from severe trauma to his head" in the middle of the block, Small said.
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SIGN UP The man -- who resided outside Philadelphia -- would die a short time after midnight at the hospital, police said.
Witnesses told investigators the man was crossing Torresdale midblock and stumbled or tripped right before being struck when an eastbound vehicle struck him then drove off, Police Crash Investigation Division Capt. Robert Heinzeroth said a Thursday news conference.
Witnesses said it appeared that a white or silver SUV -- possibly a Mitsubishi Outlander between the models years of 2016 and 2020 -- struck the man, officials said.
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The SUV driver sped off at a high-rate of speed, Heinzeroth said.
Heinzeroth said that video appears to show the driver hit the brakes, "it looks like they may have taken evasive action to try to avoid."
The SUV likely has damage to its front bumper and driver's side wheel well, Heinzeroth said.
"Based on the damage to the vehicle -- based on the parts that we recovered -- the driver certainly would have to know that he struck," Heinzeroth said.
Police found several pieces of the striking SUV -- including what appears to be a piece of the front bumper -- left behind, Small said. Those clues along with witnesses testimony and surveillance video from nearby could help police track down the driver.
Police hoped to find video of higher quality to share with the public, investigators said.
Police asked anyone with information about the SUV or driver to contact the Crash Investigation Division at 215-685-3180 or call/text the tipline at 215-686-8477.
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