July 21, 2016
Police officers on patrol in the Nicetown section of Philadelphia early Thursday morning happened upon the scene of a fatal crash, possibly caused by a drunken driver.
A 23-year-old man, a pedestrian, died from his injuries, police said.
Officers were driving southbound on Wissahickon Avenue at Roberts Avenue in a marked patrol vehicle about 1:43 a.m. when they spotted, in the center median, a 2008 white BMW with a shattered windshield, heavy front-end and hood damage, and smoke coming from the engine, according to police.
They also observed what appeared to be blood on the hood of the vehicle.
Officers had stopped to investigate the scene, when a 53-year-old black male walked up and claimed that he had struck an animal with his car.
But when officers surveyed the area, walking north along Wissahickon toward Roberts, they found an injured black male lying on his back on the sidewalk and bleeding from his head.
A medical unit responded to the crash, police said, and pronounced the man's death at about 2:02 a.m.
Police have not yet revealed the identities of the driver or victim. The driver was taken to Temple University Hospital for treatment of a cut to his hand and facial injuries due to airbag deployment, police said.
The driver, police said, was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence.
This is a breaking news story and it will be updated as more information is made available.
