Driver who smashed into Philadelphia home left scene before returning to crash site, police say
Philadelphia's Community Action Team is assisting residents who aren't allowed back inside their homes after a car crashed into the building early Monday morning.
The crash happened around 1:30 a.m. at Morrell Avenue and Academy Road in Northeast Philadelphia's Morrell Park section.
"I got my kids, my animals and now, we have no place to live," Laura Sigl said. "We thought someone was breaking into our house, and then we just hear a bunch of screaming from our other neighbors. And we come out, and we see that somebody has literally driven their car into our house."
According to police, the driver of a 2024 Mercedes Benz initially left the scene on foot but eventually returned to the crash site and cooperated with investigators.
Graca Qualtieri lives two doors down. Her Ring video captures what appears to be someone running from the scene.
"They took off running and one was holding his arm," Qualtieri said. "He was injured. I know that they were all wearing black, and when I told the police officers, they went to look. The guys did come back and we tried to tell them, but then they walked away."
No one was injured in the crash, but surrounding homes were temporarily evacuated due to a concern that the car struck a gas line during the accident.
Philadelphia Gas Works assessed the scene and confirmed no gas line was struck.
The fire department said residents in surrounding homes were able to go back inside around 2:15 a.m.
It is unclear when the residents primarily impacted by the crash will be allowed back in their homes, though police confirmed minor structural damage to the property.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
