Some would say it's a miracle Peter Eckerson is alive today.
On Thursday, he was mowed down twice by a pickup truck while walking on Broad Street as he walked to class Thursday morning at Temple University.
“I was walking along, listening to music, heard a noise, looked back, saw a giant blue truck, instantly I got smashed,” Eckerson told NBC10 Friday in an exclusive interview.
Eckerson says the blue pickup truck knocked him to the ground at Oxford and Broad Street. As police and others rushed to help, Eckerson says the same truck headed back in his direction again -- smashing several cars, even a cruiser assigned to narcotics that tried to stop the driver.
Police say 26-year-old Thomas Hennelly was behind the wheel of the truck that hit Eckerson. An officer shot and killed Hennelly when he threatened her. Investigators discovered drug paraphernalia in the truck.
“I thought he veered off the road and hit me. I wasn't expecting him to back up afterwards. It was surprising.”
Eckerson suffered a broken shin on one leg and a broken knee cap on the other. He says it's somewhat painful but the senior Criminal Justice major hopes to be up and walking soon.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
“I hope to be walking by next Thursday, my birthday.”
Fan, follow and download: Get the latest from NBCPhiladelphia.com anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and NBC Philadelphia. Sign up for our sports 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.)
