October 17, 2022
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A car crash that occurred after Abington Township police broke up an unsanctioned car rally at the Willow Grove Park Mall early Sunday morning left three people hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, investigators say.
Three people were hospitalized with injuries they sustained in a car crash that occurred after police broke up an unsanctioned pop-up car rally being held early Sunday morning at the Willow Grove Park Mall.
During the event, which included 150 to 200 vehicles, people drove recklessly, revved engines and skidded tires in the suburban mall's first-level parking lot, Abington Township police said.
The vehicles quickly fled the mall after officers arrived at 12:34 a.m. police said. Many participants headed south on Route 611 – driving in the northbound and southbound lanes – as police remained at the mall to ensure the drivers had all left the property.
In the aftermath, a car struck several parked vehicles at the intersection of Old Welsh and Fitzwatertown roads, police said. The back seat passenger was ejected from the vehicle, which suffered severe damage. The driver and front seat passenger were extricated from the car with the help of emergency personnel.
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"Although this is still an ongoing investigation, speed is believed to be a contributing factor," Abington Township police said in a news release. "Police will be working with our law enforcement partners to investigate this incident to identify those who organized and participated."
Police said unsafe, unauthorized events like the pop-up car rally will not be tolerated in the community, noting anyone involved will be prosecuted.
People with information about the rally or crash near Willow Grove Park Mall are asked to contact Detective Robert Hill at (267) 536-1101 or at rhilljr@AbingtonPA.gov.
Last month, the unsanctioned H2oicar rally at the Jersey Shore left two innocent bystanders dead. A Pittsburgh man is facing charges for allegedly crashing his car into another vehicle and two pedestrians.
Three other people also have been arrested, including a Union County driver who allegedly crashed his car into a golf cart and a Hammonton man who allegedly instructed others to block intersections, keeping police from responding to emergency calls throughout the event.
As a result of the event, Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron is seeking to triple the penalties for unsanctioned events, hoping the increased fines will discourage people from holding similar events in the future.
