Man driving U-Haul truck arrested, fatally strikes woman in Kensington hit-and-run, Philadelphia police say
A woman was struck and killed by a man driving a U-Haul truck in a hit-and-run in Philadelphia's Kensington section on Tuesday afternoon, Chief Inspector Scott Small said.
Small said the 28-year-old man driving the U-Haul "lost control" of the truck at about 4:30 p.m. when making a left turn on the 1800 block of East Cambria Street and jumped a curb, fatally striking the woman. She appears to be in her 40s, Small said. She was pronounced dead at 4:47 p.m. by medics at the scene.
Police arrested the 28-year-old man who was later identified as Christopher Burkle. Burkle was charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, involuntary manslaughter, driving without a license, careless driving, reckless driving, accident involving death and other related charges.
The truck also broke a fence and crashed into the side of a residence. The people inside the property weren't injured, but Small said Philadelphia Licenses and Inspections will investigate whether the building is safe.
Burkle and another man riding as a passenger inside the truck were both taken into custody after fleeing the scene on foot on Cambria Street, Small said.
Small said the hit-and-run happened after the U-Haul was involved in another crash at Kensington and Allegheny avenues, which is less than a mile away.
At that crash, Small said, the U-Haul was involved in a minor accident with another woman. Burkle and the woman both had a conversation after the crash, but then the U-Haul truck driver left the scene.
Not long after that, the U-Haul fatally struck the woman on East Cambria Street. Small said the woman was walking on the sidewalk when it happened.
Burkle and man inside the truck both fled on foot, Small said. They were later taken into police custody by officers who responded to the scene. The two men were taken to Philadelphia Police Headquarters for the investigation.
The woman involved in the accident on Kensington and Allegheny avenues stayed on the scene to talk to police, Small said.
Marissa Floyd witnessed the crash and said the truck was going very fast before it lost control.
"If I had been there 15 seconds later it would have hit me," she said. "It was definitely a come to God moment, very scary."
"I felt the ground shake when he hit the building," she said.
Police are working to learn if the truck was legally rented. It's unclear what was inside the U-Haul.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Philadelphia police.
