Police Need Your Help Looking for a Hit and Run Driver in SW Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Police are looking for the driver who struck and killed a 32 year-old man who was attempting to repair his disabled bicycle on Kingsessing Ave in Southwest Philadelphia.

This tragedy is the latest of several this winter where vulnerable road users have been struck in the roadway. Snow is piled up in the parking lane and it is likely that the victim might have chosen to fix his bike on the sidewalk or in the parking lane if he was able to get over there easily.

The vehicle is described as a dark colored Jeep Cherokee. It is very likely that there was front end damage to the vehicle. If you have any information please contact the Philadelphia Police Department at 215.686.TIPS (8477) or text PPDTIP (773847).

12-Year Old On Bicycle Injured In Kingsessing Hit and Run

CBS Philly reported Friday evening about a hit and run on a 12-year old riding a bicycle in Kingsessing. The report says the child suffered a broken arm and leg and is in stable condition at CHOP.

The report says the child may have ridden into an intersection against the light, and was struck by what might have been a white work pickup truck, perhaps a Ford F350. The driver did not stop. Our thoughts go out to the child and his family and we wish him a speedy and full recovery.

This is a reminder of the importance of equipping our students and children with knowledge on walking and biking safely in the city. When they know what to do and where to ride, the city is a safe place to ride a bicycle. Our Safe Routes Philly program has many bicycle and pedestrian safety resources for parents and teachers.

You can read the full CBS article here.

PA's Hit and Run Loophole Mostly Closed

As reported late last year in the wake of a hit and run crash that killed Gregory Loper on Lehigh Avenue, Pennsylvania state law perversely encouraged drivers who hit and killed someone to flee the scene. This was due to the penalty for a fatal DUI being greater than the penalty for a fatal hit and run. We encouraged people to contact their state representative or senator to support HB 208, a bill written specifically to eliminate that discrepancy.

HB 208 passed in the final hours of the State legislature in Harrisburg late last week and the Governor is expected to sign it this week. The bill makes a fatal hit and run a 2nd degree felony (it is currently a 3rd degree felony as compared to a fatal DUI that incurs a 2nd degree felony). While it keeps the current mandatory minimum sentence at 1 year (the original House bill had made it a 3 year mandatory minimum), it allows for "sentencing enhancement." The sentencing enhancement makes it more likely that a defendant will receive a substantial period of jail time. In some instances, the sentencing enhancement may actually go beyond what the original bill would have provided, according to House staff in correspondence with the Bicycle Coalition.

Bethlehem Hit And Run Prevented By Witnessing Bus and Car Drivers (Video)

On April 2nd, a bicyclist was struck from behind by a driver on Fahy Bridge in Bethlehem, PA. Then something really cool happened.

When the driver immediately attempted to flee, a bus driver ahead of the crash blocked the driver's escape. A second vehicle boxed in the criminal, and a police office arrived shortly to take him into custody.

Hooray for helping!

The whole thing was caught on camera by the city's wireless camera system.

From the police report and the video, it seems the bicyclist was not seriously hurt (although his back wheel was torn in half). The driver will be charged under, among other things, the state's newly-passed 4 foot passing law.

A thousand good human points and a big thank-you to the bus driver, Mr. Richard Gubish Jr., and the other witnessing motorist, Mr. Judson Smull, for being compassionate and quick-thinking motorists. Nothing will curb the rate of hit and run crashes like our collective refusal to let such callous behavior slide.

Scofflaw Motorists Leave Injured Teenagers Behind In Northeast Philadelphia

According ot the Upper Moreland Patch a hit and run driver struck two teens - a cyclist and a skateboarder - on Tomlinson Road in the Somertom section of the city. The report notes that the cyclist was traveling eastbound adjacent to the westbound curb. The driver of the silver Honda Odyssey then swerved and struck the skateboarder in the eastbound lane.

The 15 year old on the bike was treated for minor injuries. The skateboarder's family has posted a $10,000 reward and a family friend is offering a $1,000 reward to car repair shops if they report the suspicious vehicle.

On Tuesday Night another teen on a bicycle was struck by a hit and run driver, this time at high speed. David Silva, age 17, was crossing Tyson Avenue on his bike when he was broadsided by a motorist. Police are looking for a dark colored vehicle with tinted windows and a damaged front end.

Philadelphia Police May Not Respond To Calls Of A Bike-Car Crash

Occasionally cyclists involved in bike-car crashes reach out to us for resources, information, or just to vent. On Monday a local cyclist contacted us after being involved in a hit-and-run crash with a Philadelphia taxi. Fortunately he was not seriously hurt. A witness grabbed the taxi's license plate and called the police. The victim's experience, however, is a familiar one:

"...since no police officers arrived on the scene and since I was unable to flag down an officer I reported to the precinct office's behind Whole Foods. The officer on duty gave me a PA Driver's Accident Report which I am to fill out and send in to Harrisburg. After it is filed in Harrisburg I have to pay to get an official copy of the incident report which I can then take into the precinct office and file a complaint regarding the taxi driver leaving the scene."

"This is all very frustrating primarily because if a police officer had shown up we could have directed them to the taxi almost immediately, however now it will be days if not longer before any kind of complaint can even be made."

Driver 3X over Legal Limit Gets 7 Years for Killing Cecilia Harrop

According to the Courier Post, 40 year-old Daniel Stocklin pled guilty to vehicular homicide and was sentenced to 7 years a jail for killing tricyclist Cecilia Harrop, 39, in Brooklawn, NJ on July 7, 2010 (reported here). Stocklin’s blood-alcohol level was .246 at the time of the crash (the legal limit in NJ is .08.) The article notes that Stocklin was pulled over nearly a quarter mile away - technically a hit and run. The Judge has also suspended his license until 2020. Stocklin was also convicted of DUI in 1994.



View Bicyclists Crashes 2008-2010 NJ and SE PA in a larger map

2010 saw 4 area cyclists killed by drunk drivers

• Four days after Ms. Harrop's death, 39 Year Old Manuel Albandoz was allegedly drunk, unlicensed, and driving a black Ford Taurus that did not belong to him when he fatally struck Celina Langan in the bike lane at Torresdale and Adams Avenues in East Frankford. This blog post suggest that Vehicular Homicide by DUI charges were dropped and bail was reduced. His attorney's quote was particularly disturbing.
• On September 14, 2010, 44 year old Thomas McCoy was killed by a drunk driver on Route 47 in Deptford, NJ. On February 6th, Mary Dalton pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and must serve out 85% of her sentence in jail. Dalton's blood alcohol level measured .235 after her arrest. Sentencing is scheduled for March 16th and she could face up to 10 years in jail.
• Paul Jones, the man who struck and killed Randall Bratu on Baltimore Pike in Upper Darby. On December 30th 2010, pled guilty and was sentenced for 3 to 6 years in prison plus 3 years probation and $15,000 in restitution. His blood alcohol level was reportedly .286 at the time of his arrest. Last month, the Bicycle Coalition sent a letter to the court in asking for sentence stronger than the 3 year minimum for the offender.

Updates On Recent Bicyclist-Driver Crashes

Thank you to the dozens of people who came out in the rain last night to show support for Mr. Gregory Loper's family. It was wet and cold, but comfort is not the purpose of such moments of solidarity and reflection.

Two ways you can help the family through this difficult time:

• Send an e-mail to cyclingelves@gmail.com, and a volunteer will be in touch with you.
• Contact your State Senators about HB 208, which would close a loophole which encourages drunk drivers to flee the scene of an accident. (Follow the link to learn more about this absurd legal incentive.)

ABC Philly reports the driver who struck Mr. Loper is being charged with "Homicide by Vehicle, Homicide by Vehicle while DUI, Accident Involving Death, Driving Under the Influence, Recklessly Endangering Another Person and related offenses."

In related news, yesterday a bike cop was hit by a car in Center City and hospitalized. Fortunately, the driver did not flee and newspaper reports suggest that the driver may not have been at fault. We extend our best wishes to the police officer for a clean bill of health. The officer is reported to be in stable condition without broken bones but is being checked for head injuries.

As we head into the busiest travel period of the year, please remember that the road is a dangerous place. If you are driving this weekend, be cognizant of the impact your vehicle can have on the lives of those around you. And whether you are in a vehicle, on a bike, or on foot, please be alert, sober, and respectful of your fellow travellers' equal right to arrive safely at their destinations.

11/23/11 12:02 PM EDIT: another bit of news on this sad topic. Last December, Mr. Randall Bratu was bicycling on Baltimore Ave in Upper Darby when he was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver. Last week, the driver pleaded guilty to four counts against him: homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, accident involving death or personal injury, accident involving damage to an attended vehicle, and driving while under the influence.

Candlelight Vigil Tonight at 5:30 PM

A reminder that we are holding a candlelight vigil tonight for Mr. Gregory Loper, who was killed last Friday by an intoxicated hit-and-run driver on Lehigh Ave.

Time: Tonight, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Location: Corner of Lehigh Ave and Jasper Streets, in Kensington
We will have a limited quantity of candles and umbrellas on hand.

We are all pedestrians, and many of us are frequently bicyclists. So it a personally resonant, as well as deeply saddening, tragedy whenever a pedestrian or cyclist is killed by a vehicle. Mr. Loper's story is especially terrible, however, as he was the father of eleven children. Those interested in ways they can help his widow and his family should send an e-mail to cyclingelves@gmail.com.

Hit-and-Run Crashes and What You Can Do

We want to step outside of the immediate tragedy of the bicyclist killed in the bike lane on Lehigh Ave and place the event in a larger context. Unfortunately, that context is a skewed legal system which perversely encourages drunk drivers to leave the scene after a crash.

Say what? Here's what:

• Currently in Pennsylvania, a driver who fails to remain at the scene of a crash in which a victim dies commits a third degree felony. The minimum jail time for this is one (1) year.
• However, a driver who causes the death of another person and is convicted of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol commits a second degree felony, punishable by a minimum of three (3) years jail time.
• This discrepancy in minimum jail time essentially incentivizes intoxicated drivers to flee the scene of the accident in order to sober up.

Whether any intoxicated drivers, having struck someone with their car, think about this incentive to flee isn't the point. The point is there is no good reason for the legal system to create such an incentive in the first place.

Fortunately, there is currently a bill in Harrisburg that seeks to correct this exact problem. HB 208 would close this loophole by increasing the hit-and-run minimum jail times to match that of a DUI fatality. The bill passed the House of Representatives on April 4, 2011. It was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 3rd. No further action has been taken.

Think Pennsylvania should not be encouraging intoxicated drivers to flee crash sites? Contact your State Senator and tell him or her that you support HB 208 and believe it should be brought out of committee. Following that link will allow you to send a letter your state senator, plus the leading 4 members of the Senate Judiciary Committee where the bill currently sits.

Note: We will be holding a candlelight vigil tomorrow (Tuesday) for Mr. Loper. Reminder and additional details tomorrow.

Candlelight Vigil Tuesday For Kensington Hit and Run Victim

We will hold a candlelight vigil Tuesday for Mr. Gregory Loper, the bicyclist killed Friday evening by an SUV while riding in a bike lane in Kensington.  Details on the vigil:

• Tuesday, November 22nd.
• Corner of E. Lehigh Ave and Jasper Street, Philadelphia PA.
• 5:30 - 6:30 pm.
• We will install a ghost bike as a memorial to Mr. Loper.
• A limited number of candles will available.

NBC10 Philly has more information about the accident and the victim.  Some details:

• The victim was Gregory Loper, a 49-year old father of 11.
• The 22-year old driver, Brett Truskin, had been released from custody earlier that day after being charged with a DUI this past Wednesday.
• The driver also struck an occupied vehicle.  The driver of that occupied vehicle was reported to be in the hospital in stable condition.

Our hearts, prayers, and sympathy are extended to the family and friends of Mr. Loper, and we are reminded yet again of the toll hit-and-run drivers take on pedestrians and bicyclists.

Bicyclists Struck and Killed By Out of Control Motorist in Kensington

An unidentified bicyclist was killed in the bike lane on the 1900 Block of East Lehigh Avenue by a driver who struck four other vehicles early Friday evening. After the carnage the motorist tried to get away on foot but was caught and held down by witnesses.

According to CBS 3 the motorist has been charged with DUI and vehicular homicide. The bicyclist was the first fatality in Philadelphia that was reported by the media this year although we have observed over time that only about half of the fatal bike crashes in the City actually make the news.

The CBS 3 video includes a very moving account from witness Nicole Gerner and horrible images of the bike broken into several pieces, indicative of the speed at which the crazed motorist was travelling.

Our condolences to the family of the victim and our thanks go out to the Good Samaritans who tried to help the victim and prevented the offender from getting away.


 
View PA/NJ Bicycle Crashes 2011-2012 in a larger map

UPDATE 11-20-11 - The Offending Drivers has been identified as Brett Truskin, a 22-year-old from Ivyland, Pa. The ID of the victim has still not been released.

$5000 Reward Posted for Plumstead Hit and Run Driver Who Killed Bicyclist

The information below is gleaned from an email update posted by Terry Clemons Esq.

With the contribution of $1,000 from the Central Bucks Bicycle Club (CBBC), activists have reached the goal of raising a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the apprehension and conviction of a motorist who killed Queens NY Cyclist John Chapman in Plumstead Township on May 28th.

Others who contributed to the reward included:

• An 89 year old mother from Bensalem who sent two $20.00 bills with a note stating she recently lost a son to a hit and run driver. From her note, you could tell she really feels the pain the Chapman family is experiencing.
• A donor who contributed $500.00 on the condition that they remain anonymous. “This is not about publicity – it is about seeing that justice is done”,
• Over 50 contributors from all over the Delaware Valley and from out-of-state.

250 reward posters were printed and more than 100 posters have been placed along the Route 413 – 611 corridors from Newtown to Revere, across Route 563, along Route 313 to Doylestown, and into Point Pleasant, Center Bridge and New Hope.

If you are interested in helping place reward posters please contact Donna Lee Eller at the offices of Clemons Richter & Reiss, P.C., 107 East Oakland Avenue, Doylestown PA 18901.

$5000 Reward Poster With Pick Up Truck Info

The Plumstead Township Police continue to investigate the crash and the Bucks County District Attorney will assist with the distribution of the reward money.

John Chapman memorial page

Police Arrest Torresdale Ave Hit and Run Suspect

Police have arrested 39-year-old Manuel Albandoz who allegedly struck and killed an unidentified female cyclist in the bike lane on Torresdale Avenue near Adams Avenue just after midnight on Sunday morning. Albandoz is facing involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle, DUI and other charges.

UPDATE: Police have released the identity of the victim as Celina Langan, 24 of the 6100 Block of Tulip St.

Report gleaned from NBC Philadelphia
and CBS 3

Main Line Socialite Pleads Guilty to Hit and Run - Asks For House Arrest

From the Main Line Times:

By Richard Ilgenfritz

A Villanova woman will have to spend at least 90 days imprisoned after pleading guilty Tuesday to charges stemming from a hit-and-run crash that severely injured a teenager in Bryn Mawr one year ago. A judge will have to decide whether she will be allowed to serve out that mandatory minimum sentence at home under house arrest.

Suzanne Lammers, 76, admitted in the Norristown courtroom of Judge William R. Carpenter that she struck a 13-year-old Bryn Mawr boy as he rode his bike along New Gulph Road near Morris in Bryn Mawr last July.

According to Thomas W. McGoldrick, assistant district attorney for Montgomery County, Lammers was driving west on New Gulph Road when she struck the child. After being thrown from his bike, the child hit her windshield and fell from the car...

...She then turned around and drove back past the crash scene and went north on Morris Avenue before taking her car home and parking it in her garage. The car sat in her garage until police received an anonymous tip that the car that struck the teenager was inside the garage ...

...Frank DeSimone, the attorney for Lammers, said he would ask the court to allow her to serve the mandatory 90 days in prison under house arrest at her Villanova home. She has been on bail and has not been in jail since the crash occurred. McGoldrick said the state would oppose the house arrest. A sentencing date has not yet been determined.
We reported on this incident last July here and the ID on the driver here
Hit and Run is a despicable crime. Amazingly in PA it is only a summary offense. The fact that Ms. Lammers attorney still has a shot at getting her to spend her sentence in her comfortable home gives me the creeps, privilege has its privileges, like the lifeboat passengers on the Titanic. Let's hope the Judge prescribes a just sentence for the sake of the victim and for bicyclists everywhere in Pennsylvania.

Cycling Legal Expert Bob Mionske Comments on the "Philadelphia Problem"

Legally Speaking With Bob Mionske

Andre Steed Dies-Reward For Hit and Run Bicyclist Offered

Pedestrian Andre Steed passed away Saturday morning as a result of the injuries sustained in the hit and run with a bicyclist on October 15th.

Andre was a Paralegal for the law firm of Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein, Cohen & Pokotilow, Ltd. They are offering a reward of $10,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of the individual that struck and killed Andre. Further information regarding the reward will be available via the Citizens Crime Commission of Philadelphia (215-546-TIPS; http://www.crimecommission.org/philadelphia.html).

The cyclist has been described by witnesses as a white male, about 5'9" tall, 140 pounds, in his late teens or early twenties, wearing a white hoodie with red spots in the background and riding a white mountain bike.

Thanks to Sal Guerriero and Pete LaVerghetta for providing updates to this story.

Lower Merion police identify driver in hit-and-run

Lower Merion police have identified a 75-year-old woman they believe is responsible for a hit-and-run accident July 15 that injured a 13 Year Old boy on New Gulph and Morris Road in the township. The boy suffered from head injuries but is now recovering at home. The article on Philly.com also states that the woman may be charged causing an accident involving death or personal injury, and failure to render aid.

Read the full article in Philly.com

13YO Struck in Lower Merion Hit and Run

Main Line Times

A hit-and-run driver struck a 12-year-old child riding his bike along Old Gulph Road in Bryn Mawr early Wednesday afternoon. The unidentified child was then flown to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia with head trauma and possibly a broken leg.

Police said the child was riding westbound on Old Gulph Road just past Morris Road when a car headed in the same direction struck him from behind.

Police are now asking for the public's help in locating the car and driver. The vehicle is described as a tan Volvo station wagon with a shattered windshield and damage to the passenger side.

The driver was described as a white female in her 40's.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Lower Merion Police Department 610-649-1000.


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14YO Critically Injured in Hit and Run

From PhillyBurbs.com:

By: MATT COUGHLIN The Intelligencer

A 14-year-old boy remains hospitalized with multiple injuries after a pickup truck struck his bicycle in Northampton on Friday and the driver fled, police said. The teen was riding in the area of Temperance Lane at Blue Fox Lane about 5:24 p.m. when the pickup struck him, police said. He was taken to St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown by the Tri-Hampton Rescue Squad and was in critical condition in the ICU Saturday morning, but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, authorities said.

The pickup was disabled in the accident and one of the 48-year-old driver's relatives drove to the intersection to support the driver. However, police said the driver got into that car and fled, leaving his relative behind. The 48-year-old man, who lives in the Richboro section of Northampton, was located about 30 minutes later at another relative's home, police said. The man was taken to St. Mary and samples were taken for blood-alcohol testing.


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The juvenile's name has not been released. The driver has not been charged and police said the investigation into the accident is ongoing.

Anyone who saw the crash or has information about events leading up to the accident is asked to
call officers Martin Comyn, Marcus Wigler or Detective Peter Stark at 215-322-6111.

Matt Coughlin can be reached at 215-949-4172 or mcoughlin@phillyBurbs.com.