United States Postal Service Employee Critically Injured After Getting Struck By Stolen Vehicle, Police Say
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A United States Postal Service worker was critically injured after he was struck by a stolen car during a multi-vehicle accident in Southwest Philadelphia on Wednesday morning, police say. It happened at 50th Street and Woodland Avenue around 11 a.m.
The 46-year-old postal worker was in the back of his truck sorting mail when the driver of a Toyota SUV slammed into him, according to investigators. His postal truck, in turn, hit a gray Hyundai Elantra.
"Then he jumped out and took off running," witness Andrea Whitmore said of the driver.
A man and woman, both 21, were inside the Hyundai when it was hit. Investigators say one of them jumped out and ran after the suspect until police arrived and arrested him.
Paramedics rushed the postal worker to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center with fractures to his right leg. He was in critical but stable condition.
"Another example of an innocent person doing their job and falling victim to a senseless crime," U.S. Postal Inspector Reginald Wade said.
The aftermath stemmed from an investigation into an illegally parked car on the 4800 block of Pine Street. As police discovered the Toyota SUV was stolen, the suspect jumped in the vehicle, sped off, ran a red light and crashed, according to authorities.
The man and woman who were in the Hyundai are in stable condition at Penn Presbyterian with lower back injuries.
Detectives are continuing the investigate the incident.
CBS3's Crystal Cranmore contributed to this report.
