Philadelphia

Deadly Philly hit-and-run: Man knocked out of shoes, dragged hundreds of feet

'This victim was struck with such force that he was knocked out of both of his sneakers,' Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said

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A man died after being dragged hundreds of feet during a deadly Kensington neighborhood hit-and-run where the driver ran a red light, Philadelphia police said.

The force of impact during the early Wednesday crash along the 1900 block of East Lehigh Avenue knocked the man out of his sneakers, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.

"It does appear that speed was a factor," Small said.

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The man -- believed to be in his 30s -- was walking in a crosswalk across Lehigh Avenue and Emerald Street around 3 a.m. when a speeding SUV ran a red light and struck him, investigators said.

Surveillance video "clearly" shows the man being struck and dragged about 400 feet, Small said.

"This victim was struck with such force that he was knocked out of both of his sneakers," Small said.

Responding officers found the unresponsive man suffering from trauma to his face, head and body, Small said. Medics pronounced him dead at the scene minutes later.

The striking vehicle "never slowed down" and continued westbound on Lehigh Avenue, Small said.

Police found several parts of the striking SUV -- possibly a dark-colored Cadillac Escalade -- at the scene, Small said. The SUV should have significant damage.

Police released a surveillance image of the SUV. They also released a video of the SUV going down the road.

SUV police say was involved in a deadly hit-and-run
Surveillance image released by Philadelphia police
Surveillance image released by Philadelphia police

Police hoped those broken car pieces leads them to the damaged SUV and its driver.

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