Philadelphia police searched for clues after a woman in a wheelchair or pushing a wheelchair was struck and killed on the edge of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park early Tuesday morning. NBC10’s Katy Zachry reports.
A woman either using a wheelchair or pushing one was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver along the edge of Philadelphia's Fairmount Park early Tuesday morning.
A damaged wheelchair marked the spot where the woman was struck along Reservoir Drive -- near Diamond Drive and the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood -- just before 2 a.m. on Oct. 15, 2024, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.
"The female was either in the wheelchair or pushing the wheelchair, we're not certain at this time because there were no witnesses to this accident," Small said.
She was hit by such force that one of her boots was found about 100 feet from her body, police said.
Get top local stories in Philly delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia's News Headlines newsletter.
"She was knocked out of one of her boots," Small said.
Two people pulled up shortly after the crash and found the woman -- who police couldn't identify -- semiconscious, police said.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Medics pronounced the woman -- who had severe head and body injuries -- dead on the scene shortly after they arrived.
Investigators didn't immediately know if the driver was going northbound or southbound, Small said.
Police hoped some broken car parts at the scene could help them determine the type of car involved. Later in the morning they said the striking car was possible silver, but had no further details.
"Speed definitely could have been a factor," Small said.
On Tuesday, pedestrians in the area said they were saddened by the incident.
Stef Lenis, who was walking in the area on Tuesday, said that she hopes the city does something to prevent future incidents in the area.
"I just hope something is being done to prevent further accidents, further fatal car crashes," she told NBC10's Neil Fischer.
"I take care of the elderly, so I really saddened by what happened," said Adrianne Washington, a fellow pedestrian.
Officials said they are still searching for the vehicle that they have seen on surveillance video of the incident.
They are also still working to determine the victim's identify, officials said.
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox.
