Identities Released Of Two Killed In Somerton Crash
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Two young women were killed and a driver is under arrest for DUI following a single car crash in Northeast Philadelphia early Friday morning. Philadelphia police have released the names of the two women who were killed.
The backseat passenger is identified as 22-year-old Melissa Lees of the 800 block of Barlow Street. Her roommate, 23-year-old Caitlin Hennessey, was riding in the front seat -- both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say the driver, also a woman in her 20's, was speeding on slippery roads -- lost control and clipped a utility pole before crashing into a brick wall. The driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Her name has not been released and police are investigating to determine if she was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the wreck.
The deadly crash happened at about 2 a.m. at Byberry and Worthington Roads in the city's Somerton section.
According to investigators, a SUV was traveling westbound on Byberry Road at a high rate of speed when the driver apparently lost control and struck a utility pole.
Annie-Marie Green reports...
One of the victims was ejected from the vehicle and the other passenger was pinned inside the car.
The driver, a 20-year-old woman, survived the crash and was initially taken to Aria Health's Torresdale division for treatment.
The intersection near the crash was closed and local detours were in effect while the accident was being investigated.
Reported by Mike Dougherty & Al Novack, KYW Newsradio; Dray Clark, CBS 3
