A Delaware woman crossing a road in her wheelchair Tuesday was killed by three hit-and-run drivers, police say.
In a horrific twist, sources tell NBC Philadelphia that the woman would not have been crossing the road in a wheelchair if she hadn’t lost her leg in a previous hit-and-run accident that happened on the same road.
Edith McFarland, 58, was crossing S Market Street (Route 13) in Wilmington right before the I-95 entrances when a vehicle driving south on the road hit her at about 6:35 p.m., according to Delaware State Police.
McFarland was thrown from her wheelchair and then two other cars hit her. All three cars fled the scene, leaving McFarland to die, police say.
McFarland was returning home after buying groceries when she was killed, sources say.
"She was a good woman," McFarland's son Jeremy told NBC Philadelphia's Justin Pizzi. "We didn’t have very much anyway, but she would give anyone what she had, you know."
The previous hit-and-run that cost Edith McFarland her leg happened 25 years ago, according to her friend Robin Smith.
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"To be taken off of this earth the same way she lost her leg, it’s just, it heavies my heart," Smith said.
Aside from being hit by at least four cars in her life, and ultimately killed, neighbors tell NBC Philadelphia that McFarland had troubles over the years, “but she was a nice lady.”
According to police, McFarland was living at the nearby Fairview Inn motel with her son.
On Friday, police released a description of one of the suspected vehicles in the hit-and-run. Investigators believe the car is a gold late 90's Oldsmobile Regency or Royale with damage to the front end and grill.
They also posted a photo of a similar vehicle.
Police have not released descriptions of the other two vehicles involved in the hit-and-run.
Anyone with information on any of the drivers should call 302-834-2620 Ext. 275 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.
