What to Know
- A man was knocked out of his shoes in a deadly hit-and-run crash along Ogontz Avenue late Tuesday night, Philadelphia police said.
- A witness told investigators the driver stopped and looked back at the dying victim before driving off, Philadelphia Police Scott Small said.
- Surveillance video and witnesses are helping police in the investigation.
A man died after being knocked out of his shoes by a driver who at first got out of the car to look back at the man before leaving him for dead on the street, Philadelphia police said.
The hit-and-run took place just after 11 p.m. as the victim crossed Ogontz Avenue, near Cheltenham Avenue, in the East Mount Airy neighborhood.
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Police officers and fire department medics responded to find the unresponsive 47-year-old man on the northbound lanes of the 7900 block of Ogontz Avenue suffering from "severe trauma to his head," Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.
Medics pronounced the man dead minutes later.
On Wednesday afternoon, police identified the victim as Toby Maurice Bryant of the Oxford Circle section of Northeast Philly.
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Friends and family members told investigators that the victim works in the neighborhood as a great barber.
He was walking from the westside of the street to the eastside when a northbound driver appearing to go "at a high rate of speed" struck him, Small said. Police later said the man was crossing against a red light and not in the crosswalk.
The driver struck the man and dragged him about 30 to 40 feet, Small said.
"He was hit with such force he was knocked out of his footwear," Small said.
A witness who is friends with the victim told investigators that he saw the driver continue about 100 to 200 feet northbound on Ogontz Avenue then stopped, Small said.
"The driver got out of the car, looked back at the victim then got back in the car and left the scene," Small said.
The driver -- described as a stocky guy in dark clothing -- sped off toward Cheltenham Avenue, investigators said.
Police viewed surveillance video that appeared to show the striking vehicle as a silver or light-colored sedan, police said. Investigators found some debris believed to be from the car, including a Ford emblem.
It's possible that the car has damage to the driver's side front, Small said.
This is how police described the striking car: "2005-2007 Ford Five Hundred, Silver with possible front-end and front windshield damage with and pre-existing damage to the driver side rear quarter panel."
Friends, loved ones honor Toby Maurice Bryant
Friends describe Toby Maurice Bryant as a great barber who was beloved by his community.
His family gathered at his longtime workplace to honor his life with a vigil and balloon release on Friday.
Bryant's brother didn't want to be identified but told NBC10 what it was like to get the call.
"When I picked up the phone and heard it, I felt like I was in a dream. It didn't hit me until I got off the phone and I started reaching out to my mom and other family members," he said.
He was remembered as a beloved barber who gave back to his community.
"A good dude man, he was my barber and everything but I’m going to miss him," Robert Elam told NBC10.
An empty barber chair at Golden Combs Barber Shop has become the physical representation of the life taken too soon by this deadly crash.
"Great barber. The kids loved him, the community loved him. We're gonna miss him. My condolences to the family as well," one person said.
His family told NBC10 that Bryant cherished his customers and treated them like his own loved ones. As his sisters hugged mourners inside for a while, candles sat outside the Golden Comb in his honor.
"He loves each and everybody within their hearts. Money or not, he still cut your hair. That’s the kind of person he is," one person said at Friday's vigil.
Friends are now hoping for justice for their loved one as they hold on to the memories of Bryant during this tragedy.
Police asked anyone with information to contact them.
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