Police in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, released images of a pickup truck they believe struck and killed a man outside of a McDonald's over the weekend.
The deadly hit-and-run took place around 4:10 p.m. Sunday outside the fast-food joint at 7700 Bristol Pike in Levittown, Bristol Township police said in a Facebook post.
Medics rushed the man -- who was on foot when he was struck -- to a Northeast Philadelphia hospital where he died, police said.
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Police said the pickup truck never stopped or slowed down after striking Smith, exited the McDonald's parking lot and continued towards Tullytown on Route 13.
Police described the hit-and-run vehicle as a gray Chevrolet 4-door pickup truck, possibly a 2013 Silverado, with a 4x4 sticker on both sides of the bed, black rims, and a front vanity license plate.
"The truck may be missing an oval shaped black plastic trim piece that may cover a fog lamp opening," police said.
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Police identified the man who died as 47-year-old Jason Smith, a man who recently moved to the area.
During a news conference on Monday, Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub said Smith got into an altercation with the driver of the pickup truck prior to the hit-and-run. Surveillance video showed Smith retrieving something from his car and then approaching the pickup truck, according to Weintraub. Weintraub also said a carpenter's hammer was later found next to Smith's body following the deadly crash.
Weintraub asked for the driver of the pickup truck to surrender to police and also said investigators haven't determined whether or not the incident was a case of self-defense.
“We have neither ruled out a legal self-defense claim nor the belief that the driver leaving the scene due to immediate safety concerns may have been justified under the circumstances," Weintraub said. "This is all open. As of right now we want to draw no improper conclusions.”
Anyone who recognizes the truck or has info on the hit-and-run is asked to contact Bristol Township Detective Patrick Kitchenman at 267-812-3056 or by email at pkitchenman160@bristolpd.org.
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