Police: 6-Year-Old Boy Struck, Killed By Vehicle In Nicetown
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia Police say a six-year-old boy has died after he was struck by a vehicle in Nicetown.
A frenzied scene in the 3600 block of 15th Street as crews scrambled to free a six-year-old boy struck by a passing car. No one more horrified by the scene than a man who tried to save the child.
"I seen a lot of things, but that's going to stick with me for a while."
This witness chose not to show his face but the unshakeable image of the little boy trapped beneath the vehicle, brings him to tears. He tried to use a car jack to hoist the car off the boy but had no idea the gravity of his injuries.
"In hindsight now that I know how bad it was, I'm really glad that I wasn't able to jack the car up. If I saw more than I saw…this was nothing nobody should see."
"The child was walking home from school and that's all I know at this point. And unfortunately walked between the parked vehicles and was struck by the vehicle," Captain John Wilczynski said.
Police say the distraught 52-year-old male driver behind the wheel of a Buick never left the scene.
"They definitely need crossing guards," Evelyn Wiggins said.
Longtime residents like Evelyn Wiggins say on any given afternoon the block is filled with kids leaving a nearby charter school. She's calling for more crossing guards in the wake of this tragedy.
"As long as I've been here there's never been a crossing guard on any of these corners from Erie Avenue from Allegheny and they're only in front of the school," Wiggins said.
Police have not released the child's name. The driver is cooperating with police.
Police do not believe drugs, alcohol or speed were factors in the accident. They say it appears to be a tragic accident at this point.
The accident remains under investigation.
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