Police Seek Minivan Driver in West Philly Hit-and-Run
Footage released this week shows the van backing up before it accelerates into the victim and slowly drives away.
Police are searching for two suspects seen in a minivan that ran over and seriously injured a pedestrian in West Philly last week.
The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on October 24th on the 5600 block of Wyalusing Avenue, according to police.
Footage released this week shows the minivan approach the victim, who is standing in the street. The minivan then reverses a few feet, and a male exits the vehicle before the van quickly accelerates forward, running over the victim. The vehicle then reverses once more and drives away.
Police say the suspect sustained serious injuries and was transported to Presbyterian Hospital.
The male suspect is described as a black male with a light brown complexion in his early 20s, 6 feet tall with a thin build, wearing a red T-shirt and blue jeans. The other suspect, the driver, is described as a black female operating a dark blue or burgundy colored minivan, believed to be a Dodge Caravan or Chrysler Town & Country.
6ABC reports that the 25-year-old victim is transgender and that investigators are “considering that as one of many possible motives” in the hit-and-run.
A police spokesman said officials were “investigating the incident from all angles” on Wednesday.
Lt. John Walker of Southwest Detectives called the case “horrifying” on Tuesday.
“To see this car just ram into a person, run them over and then just back up and run them over again and then slowly just drive off and watch the person squirming on the ground, it’s a horrifying case,” Walker said at a press conference, per 6ABC.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Southwest Detective Division at 215-686-3184/3185.
