Driver sought in deadly Christmas Day hit-and-run in Philadelphia: police

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - Authorities are searching for a hit-and-run driver who they say fatally struck a pedestrian on Christmas Day in South Philadelphia.

Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department were called to the 300 block of Snyder Avenue around 9 p.m. for reports of a crash.

Chief Inspector Scott Small told reporters a man believed to be in his 40s was walking on Snyder Avenue when he was hit by an oncoming car.

Surveillance video from the scene shows a person wrapped in a blanket walking down the street in a crosswalk. He then looks both ways, sees the traffic light turn red and, thought it was safe to cross the street mid-block.

But, out of nowhere, a car comes flying through the red light, hitting the man before he can make it to safety.

Chief Inspector Small stated, "He was unresponsive, suffering from trauma to his head."

Police say the driver didn’t stop and, within seconds, a passerby pulled over to check on the victim and called 911. Police say the unidentified man, believed to be in his 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A nearby resident, Selina XIE, says her parked car became part of the crime scene, "The car just hit the guy and the guy hit my car. It’s really bad. I can’t imagine how fast he was driving to cause this bad."

XIE’s rear light was shattered. Police say the victim’s body was thrown roughly 50 feet from where he was hit, knocking him out of his sneakers.

According to authorities, the driver was last seen traveling eastbound on Snyder Avenue. Witnesses told police the hit-and-run car is believed to be a silver sedan with some front end damage.

Another resident, Zurab Khitalishvili, said, "I don’t know if the person had family or what he was doing, but when something like this happens, it’s sad."