Philadelphia Police Release Image Of Tesla Wanted In Deadly Hit-And-Run In Germantown
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia police are searching for the driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run in the city's Germantown neighborhood Monday night.
Philadelphia police need help to identify the driver behind the wheel of this car. It's a grey Tesla and its front windshield is caved in. The vehicle also has heavy damage to the front passenger's side.
Police say a 21-year-old was crossing Germantown Avenue and Coulter Street when a driver in the Tesla struck and killed them Monday evening.
"Clearly, speed was a factor and she was hit very hard," Philadelphia Police Chief Insp. Scott Small said.
Police say the impact of the crash was so strong the victim was launched 12 feet into the air before their body then struck a traffic light. You can see part of it is damaged.
"She was hit so hard with such force, she was thrown out of both of her sneakers," Small said.
The victim was identified as Dia by two friends, who add Dia uses the pronouns they/them.
"Oh my God, that could of been any of us, you know. It's just crazy that people don't think about other people's lives," Germantown resident Cherri Gonsalves said.
Neighbors say it can often be nerve-wracking crossing busy Germantown Avenue because often it appears drivers are traveling well above the 25-mile-per-hour speed limit.
"Just be very careful because there's some cars that go speeding," Joe Patanovich said.
"We call it Germantown Expressway. This is what they do, 100 miles per hour every day. Every day," Crystal Jackson said. "People really need to be held accountable for this reckless driving they do. It's horrible."
Anyone with information about the driver of the Tesla is urged to contact the police.
