1 Dead, 3 Hospitalized, After Cars Collide In Spring Garden
by Diana Rocco
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A 79-year-old man is dead and three people are hospitalized after two vehicles collided, striking two pedestrians on Wednesday.
The pictures show the anguish on a 77-year-old woman's face while her 79-year-old husband is trapped underneath a car. The husband and wife from Blue Bell were in the city shopping. An unthinkable way to lose a husband.
"It sounded pretty terrible, I heard a crash and screams afterward," said a person who lives nearby.
Mike Wallick said he could hear the wife's screams. "It was sad, the older lady was just hysterical. All she got was a bruise and she was walking right next to him but he happened to be in the way of the car," said Wallick.
The accident happened at about 4:30 p.m. at 18th and Spring Garden Streets near Highway Mission Tabernacle in the Spring Garden section.
Chopper 3 HD was over the scene as police and medics responded to the crash.
Two cars collided in the intersection pushing this grey car up on to the curb - and into the front of the church - where the couple was standing.
"It appears the husband and wife were totally innocent victims and just happened to be struck by a vehicle after it was involved in a two car collision," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small.
"People started screaming there was an older man under the grey car, so everyone ran to help," said Wallick.
Onlookers watched in horror as EMTs and firefighters pulled the car off the man and put him in a waiting ambulance.
The man was transported to Hahnemann University Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after 5 p.m. The woman was also transported to Hahnemann where she is listed in stable condition.
Both female drivers were also transported to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. They are both listed in stable condition.
Many are left speculating how this could have happened.
"Sometimes people try to catch the red light before it turns," said one witness who has seen accidents here before.
Traffic was shut down in both directions due to the accident.
The church has minor damage.
