1 Child Remains Critical, 2 Stable After North Philadelphia Hit-Run Accident
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Three young children were injured Saturday afternoon in North Philadelphia after police say a man struck them with his vehicle and tried to attack the officer with an ax.
Police say three children who were struck by a hit and run driver Saturday remain hospitalized and the driver remains in custody facing numerous charges including leaving the scene of an accident.
The suspect has been identified as Alton Parker, 54-years-old from the 2800 block of Lehigh Avenue.
The incident happened at about 4:30 p.m. in the 2600 block of North Myrtlewood Street where children were playing at a block party. Police say the suspect sped down the street in a stolen Volvo station wagon, allegedly high on PCP, striking two 9-year-old boys and a two-year-old before driving away.
One of the boys is Aaron Preno's little brother, Andre Clarke (photo).
"I told him to get out of the street but it was too late," said Preno.
Aaron was able to jump out of the way, just in time to see his brother get hit.
"The car hit him, and he fell onto the road and was all bloody."
"No thinking. No stopping," said Linda Robinson, a witness. "He just came right through."
Authorities say an off-duty officer tried to stop the vehicle, but the suspect rammed his car into the officer's and then crashed into an abandoned building in the 2600 block of Sergeant Street.
The suspect then got out of his car with an ax and allegedly started swinging it toward the officer, according to police.
Jericka Duncan reports...
The officer was not injured and managed to subdue the suspect who was then taken into police custody moments later. The three children were transported to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children where one of the 9-year-old victims is listed in critical condition after sustaining serious injuries to the head, according to authorities. The other two victims are expected to be okay.
Parker is charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault, aggravated assault while DUI, recklessly endangering another person, accident involving injury and other related offenses.
Reported By Al Novack, KYW Newsradio; Jericka Duncan, CBS 3
