Police arrested a woman who they say struck and killed a high school football player with her SUV, fled the scene and tried to cover up the crash.
Jamina Washington, 21, was arrested Friday and charged with homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, leaving the scene, leaving the scene while not licensed and tampering with evidence.
Police say Washington was driving her 2008 Chevy Suburban southbound on 2nd Street at Hunting Park Avenue back on July 12 at 1:20 p.m. Washington tried to speed past a vehicle that was stopped in front of her and went into the wrong lane, striking 17-year-old Tyrone Tillman, who was riding his bicycle, police said.
Washington allegedly stopped and exited her vehicle briefly. She then went back into her SUV and drove off, police said. Washington tried to conceal the crash by removing the license plate and hiding in her vehicle, according to investigators.
Witnesses followed her SUV and identified her to police, according to investigators. Investigators eventually caught up to her at 7th and Atlantic streets and took her in for questioning before releasing her pending further investigation. She was officially arrested and charged Friday morning.
Tillman, a football player who would have entered his senior year at Edison High School, was taken to Temple University Hospital where he died from his injuries. He was the older brother to six siblings.
“My baby is a good boy," said Tillman's mother Frederica McKee with tears swelling in her eyes.
McKee learned of her son's death after being contacted by the boy's father.
"They had to fingerprint him to identify him because he didn't have an ID on him," said McKee. ""For her to kill him and drive off... I don't understand how she sleeps at night."
