Philadelphia police are probing the conduct of an officer involved in a tragic hit-and-run incident. The investigation centers on the officer’s alleged failure to assist a man lying in the street, who was later struck and killed by a vehicle.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred around 1:45 a.m. Thursday on Rising Sun Avenue in Olney. A 48-year-old man was fatally hit during the event, which Philadelphia Police First Deputy Commissioner John M. Stanford elaborated on in a press conference. The police were informed of the crash by the medical examiner later that morning.
Surveillance Footage Reveals Officer’s Actions
Surveillance video obtained showed the officer pulling over to speak with the victim, who was unsteadily walking in the bike lane. After a brief interaction, the officer returned to his car and drove away, leaving the victim on the ground. The man was partially in the bike lane and the traffic lane when a civilian witness also approached him before leaving.
While one car stopped possibly to avoid the victim, another car, a green 2023-26 Kia Sportage, drove through, hitting the victim in the bike lane. The vehicle then fled the scene heading eastbound on Tabor Avenue.
Police Seek Public’s Assistance
Following the incident, police are requesting help from the public in locating the driver and the vehicle involved. Two witnesses moved the victim from the road and called emergency services, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Conduct of Involved Officer Under Scrutiny
The same officer who had initially interacted with the victim was the first to respond to the crash scene but did not secure the area, start an investigation, or offer medical assistance. This officer is now on administrative duty.
Stanford described the situation as “very disturbing,” emphasizing that it contradicts the core values of empathy and compassion upheld by the police force. An investigation into the crash and the officer’s conduct is ongoing. The officer in question, who has two years of experience, works in the 35th District.