Philadelphia

Teen hit-and-run driver strikes and kills man while racing in Philly, police say

Philadelphia police officers who were on patrol shortly after midnight Tuesday when they spotted a blue Dodge Charger and a white Dodge Charger speeding eastbound on Castor and Aramingo avenues, according to investigators. 

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One man is dead and two people are in police custody after a hit-and-run in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia. NBC10’s Miguel Martinez-Valle has the latest.

A teen driver from Levittown, Pennsylvania, was arrested after he allegedly struck and killed a man while racing another car in Philadelphia and then fled the scene.

Joseph Vannauker, 19, of Levittown, is charged with homicide by vehicle, murder and reckless driving.

Police said Vannauker was driving a 2020 blue Dodge Charger shortly after midnight Tuesday on Castor and Aramingo avenues in Philadelphia. Vannauker was racing a white Dodge Charger when he struck a man who was walking at the intersection, knocking him out of his sneakers, police said.

Officers who witnessed the crash began pursuing both Vannauker and the driver of the white Dodge Charger but were unable to stop them, investigators said. Vannauker and the other driver continued northbound on I-95, according to police.

The man who was struck was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:25 a.m.. Police have not yet determined his identity but said he appeared to be in his 40's.

After Philadelphia Police sent out a description of the blue Dodge Charger, police in Pennsauken, New Jersey, spotted a vehicle that matched the description, investigators said. Pennsauken Police pulled over the vehicle, which had front end damage, and took the driver, who they later identified as Vannauker, as well as his passenger, a 16-year-old boy, into custody. The teen passenger suffered injuries to his right hand and forearm and was taken to the hospital for treatment, police said.

Police have not yet found the white Dodge Charger that was speeding along with the blue Dodge Charger. They continue to investigate and are looking at surveillance video in the area.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

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