Polina Kadiyska, the victim of Sunday's hit and run accident in South Philadelphia, passed away Tuesday, NBC10 has confirmed. She was 22-years-old.
She was a ballerina from Bulgaria who moved to Philadelphia three years ago to study at the Rock School for Dance Education.
Police say Kadiyska had just left a Chinese restaurant and was crossing the street at the intersection of Broad and Ellsworth Streets when she was struck by a green Audi early Sunday.
After the young woman was hit, police say the Audi hit three parked cars nearby and the driver and his male passenger ran from the scene. Both men were taken into custody after returning to the car to retrieve some items.
Kadiyska was taken to Jefferson Hospital, where she died of her injuries on Tuesday.
"We had kind of known it was coming," said Brian McCole, the General Manager of the Rock School. "But nonetheless it's still a punch to the gut when you do get the news."
Polina's parents arrived in Philadelphia from Bulgaria Tuesday morning to say goodbye to their daughter.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Fellow dancers have left flowers and handwritten notes for Polina at the school.
"She was one of the hardest workers we had here," said McCole. "She always volunteered for any dirty job that had to be done around here. Just a beautiful, energetic person."
The suspected driver is 19-year-old Deandre Barnes. While Barnes was originally charged with aggravated assault and DUI, those charges will now be elevated to homicide by vehicle, according to police.
